Police are pleading with drivers and motorcyclists in the Adelaide Hills to “stop the carnage” as the results of Operation Safe Hills 2021-2022 are tallied after the first month.
Nineteen lives have been lost on Hills roads this year with six of those being motorcycle riders. Since the beginning of the operation one month ago, two people have already died – both of them motorcyclists.
Superintendent Bob Gray said speeding in the Hills is a perilous issue and that drivers and riders are recklessly risking their lives and the lives of others, with irresponsible behaviours.
“The statistics are absolutely staggering,” Supt Gray said. “How many people need to die or sustain life changing injuries before drivers and riders start to change their attitudes and their behaviour?”
Since 1 October, 2,523 drivers or riders have been detected for a speeding offence in Hills regions, with 2,468 of those detected speeding up to 29km/h over the limit.
A further 45 drivers or riders were detected speeding 30-44kph over the limit and ten were caught speeding an alarming 45kph or more over the speed limit.
Of the 2,523 detections, 76 were motorcycles with 67 of them speeding up to 29kph over the limit. There were nine motorcycles detected speeding between 30 and 44kph over the limit.
Operation Safe Hills will run continuously until the end of April 2022, targeting the seasons when recreational motorcyclists are drawn to the Hills.
Police will be on high alert for drivers and riders flouting speed limits and will take a ‘no tolerance’ approach to those refusing to do the right thing.
“Those who get caught and fined are the lucky ones,” Supt Gray said. “If an expiation makes a driver or rider think twice about speeding next time they’re out, this could literally save their life or the life of another innocent motorist who comes in their path.”
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