South Australia Police will spend the next four days targeting drivers across the state who thoughtlessly creep over the speed limit.
Beginning tomorrow morning, Tuesday 16 June, Operation Safe Speed will use a highly visible police presence to deter road users from speeding.
Reductions in speed save lives and minimise injuries.
Crash data from 2019 suggests that excessive speed was a contributing factor to 16 crashes that involved a loss of life. In 2020, crash data indicates that speed was a contributing factor to 15 crashes involving the loss of life.
The risk of a casualty crash approximately doubles with every 5kmph speed increase on a 60kmph speed limited road, or with every 10kmph speed increase on 110kmph roads.
Research suggests a reduction of 5kmph in average travel speed would reduce rural casualty crashes by about 30% and metropolitan crashes by about 25%.
The South Australia Police One Tonne Bullet campaign was released in March to warn motorists that a speeding car is like a one tonne bullet.
“We have plenty of state specific media campaigns and resources that highlight the dangers of speeding,” said Superintendent Bob Gray, Officer in Charge of the Traffic Services Branch.
“Police have also spent years talking about the dangers of speeding at press conferences and during daily interactions with road users. People who speed can’t blame a lack of awareness or knowledge.
“It’s time for the community to take responsibility and realise that speeding is selfish and incredibly dangerous. Speak up if your friend or family member is going over the limit because it’s time to stop normalizing this behaviour.
“Speed kills. Slow down. It’s that simple.”
Operation Safe Speed will run from 12:01am Tuesday 16 June until 11:59pm on Friday 19 June.
