Safety plea: 'respect life'

Police are urging road users to “take greater care on our roads” as the State’s road toll reaches a four-year high, with the Hills and Fleurieu district the State’s deadliest.

According to police data, 56% of fatal crashes this year were on regional roads, with a “deeply concerning” pattern of dangerous driving behaviors responsible for many deaths.

“The number of deaths and serious accidents we have had this year is significantly higher than SAPOL’s target and I urge South Australian road users to be more careful,” SA Police traffic services branch officer in charge, superintendent Shane Johnson, said. There have been 45 fatalities across SA this year, including 10 on Hills and Fleurieu roads, which is almost double the region’s annual average for this time of year.

The region with the second highest number of fatalities this year was Northern Adelaide Metropolitan District, with seven.

As of Monday, 19 of those killed across SA this year were drivers, while motorcycle riders accounted for 11 deaths, car passengers for seven and bike riders and pedestrians for eight.

Demographically, males were significantly more likely to be killed in a crash.

Michael Scott, who is the founding chairman of the Fleurieu Road Safety Group – which advocates for road safety and infrastructure improvements across the Fleurieu and southern Hills – said drivers’ attitudes needed to shift.

He said a lack of respect and patience on Hills road led to dangerous and illegal behaviors, such as road rage.

“People are getting seriously injured through road rage; people jumping out and smashing windows or pulling people out of cars, that sort of thing,” he said.

Mr Scott said other examples included overtaking on double lines while driving down regional or rural roads, or driving unsafely or speeding within townships or populated areas such as Strathalbyn and Mt Barker. 

“People that are used to, dare I say, pottering around in Strath’ are suddenly finding that there are people that are commuting ... like they’re on a mission to get somewhere,” he said.

“The whole profile of the type of traffic that we’re getting is different.

“Someone just coming down to go shopping at Woolies and back (home) again has got a different driving technique to a person that is quickly grabbing a coffee and heading for the Adelaide CBD.”

The Fleurieu Road Safety Group is encouraging road users to think about the “four Rs” when driving; respect, recognise, react, and the road rules.

“Respect for your own life and the lives of other road users, for the privilege of having a driver’s license, and for your own vehicle,” he said.