South Australia Police (SAPOL) is once again pleading with motorists to take greater responsibility on the roads following a tragic Labour Day long weekend that saw two lives lost, and 13 serious injuries.
Operation Safe Long Weekend (OSLW) ran from Friday 2 October to Monday 5 October, with police targeting dangerous road user behaviours across metropolitan and regional South Australia.
Despite the increased enforcement focus, two people lost their lives in separate crashes at Virginia and Paracombe, while serious crashes were also reported at Port Wakefield and Woodside.
Among the lives lost was a 23-year-old motorcyclist who died following a collision involving two cars at Paracombe on Monday. A separate crash in Virgina claimed the life of a 52-year-old man in a two-vehicle crash.
The deaths add to an already concerning year for motorcycle road trauma, with SAPOL repeatedly urging riders to slow down, ride within their abilities, and take greater care on the roads.
Further concerning driving behaviours over the long weekend included two motorists travelling more than 45km/h above the speed limit on Main North Road within 24 hours. Both drivers were reported and issued with Immediate Loss of Licence notices.
During OSLW, police detected 651 speeding offences, with 328 drivers reported or expiated and a further 323 cautioned.
Police also conducted 15,914 alcohol tests, with 61 positive results, and 520 drug tests, with 31 drivers returning a positive result.
A total of 83 Immediate Loss of Licence notices were issued, including 38 for drug driving, 35 for drink driving, nine for speeding, and one for dangerous driving.
Police also detected 15 seatbelt offences, 265 distraction offences, and eight dangerous road use offences.
Acting Officer in Charge of Traffic Services Branch, Inspector Mark Atkinson said the continued loss of life was devastating and reinforced the need for all road users to take responsibility for their actions.
“Police will continue to enforce the road rules and remind the community about the dangers of risky driving and riding, but ultimately, every road user needs to take responsibility for their decisions,” Inspector Atkinson said.
“We need members of the community to ride and drive like their life depends on it, because it does. Please make safer choices before more families are left grieving.”
Motorcyclists are reminded to ride within their capabilities, reduce their speed, and adjust their riding to the road and weather conditions. Drivers are similarly urged to drive to the speed limit, avoid distractions, wear a seatbelt, and never drive impaired.
Police will continue to target dangerous road user behaviours across the state, with enforcement occurring anywhere and at any time.
