Message unheard

It’s disappointing to see that, after all the road safety messaging we’ve seen in recent years, the number of fines issued for speeding and other road safety offences is still increasing in the Hills.

Speeding is one of the ‘fatal five’ and Hills roads can be particularly dangerous and unpredictable given their narrowness, windiness and prevalence of high speed limits – exemplified by the fact that the majority of road crashes in our region occur on roads with 80–110km/h speed limits.

The death toll on our roads is consistently high, despite frequent safety campaigns in the media and regular traffic blitzes by SA Police.

Unfortunately, neither appear to be enough to deter drivers from doing the wrong thing.

While many people think they won’t fall victim to tragic consequences on the road, driving can be unpredictable, especially on Hills roads, where typical hazards include fallen trees or branches, wandering livestock, rock falls, cyclists, inclement weather and other dangerous drivers.

Road rules are there to help manage and minimise those risks.

While some might cynically dismiss road safety cameras as ‘revenue raising’, the fact is that every traffic offence is unacceptable, whether or not it’s detected by police.

It isn’t just the added financial costs for our health system or infrastructure that result from road crashes – the true cost is the grief and horror experienced by the families and friends of those who die or are permanently injured on our roads.

Too often people make excuses for doing the wrong thing, but road safety rules are there for a reason and getting behind the wheel is a privilege – not a right.

Following the speed limit and obeying other road rules gives everyone the best chance of surviving when the unexpected does happen on the road.

If we don’t, we pose an unacceptable risk to ourselves and to others.