NEARLY one quarter of the state's speeding offences caught on mobile speed cameras are happening on regional roads.
RAA shared SA Police statistics showing in the past five financial years there have been 432,557 vehicles caught speeding by mobile speed cameras with 105,085 - of 24 per cent on regional roads, with these fines adding up to $42.4 million.
RAA Safety and Infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain said motorists risked much more than a fine if they exceed the speed limit.
"Speeding - especially on roads with limits of 90 kilometres an hour to 110km/h - can put not only you and your loved ones, but also other roads users at increased risk of death or serious injury,'' he said.
"Motorists must also be aware of speed limit changes as they near towns or approach road works and adjust their speed accordingly.''
The highest number of speeding offences caught by mobile speed cameras were recorded in the Adelaide Hills - with 35,460 - followed by the Barossa, Light and Lower North, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, Murray Mallee, Limestown Coast, Yorke Peninsula and Mid North, Western and Eyre Peninsula and Far North - with 1047.
The top 10 locations for mobile speed cameras included roads in the Adelaide Hills with a 100km/h limit, on key highways, in an iconic Barossa Valley town, and a residential street in Mount Barker with a 50km/h limit.
These are Battunga Road, Meadows, which has raised nearly $1.7m in the past five years; Murray Street Nuriootpa; Princes Highway, Tailem Bend; Armstrong Road, Victor Harbor; Horrocks Highway, Roseworthy; Alexandrina Road, Mount Barker; Mount Barker Road, Bridgewaterl Long Valley Road and Langhorne Creek Road, Strathalbyn; and Piccadilly Rd, Crafers.
Mr Mountain said recent interstate and international COVID-19 travel restrictions meant many South Australians were holidaying in their home state during the school holidays.
This is highlighted by RAA Travel accommodation bookings in SA, which have quadrupled compared to the same time last year.
"Roads in regional SA - especially those areas popular with holidaymakers - will be busier than normal this long weekend so we urge drivers to remain vigilant and exercise caution,'' he said.
"If you're planning on getting away for the long weekend, make sure you drive to the conditions, plan regular rest breaks and put your safety and that of other road users at the top of your driving agenda.''
SAPOL has also announced it will be targeting the "fatal five" - drink and drug driving, speeding, distraction, not wearing seatbelts and dangerous driving - as part of its Operation Safe Long Weekend blitz.
During the past five October long weekend periods there have been eight deaths from 48 serious injury crashes - including five deaths on rural roads.
SAPOL data shows more than two-thirds of the deaths and serious injuries have occurred on regional roads.
Traffic Services Branch officer in charge Superintendent Bob Gray said police would be out in force conducting mobile and static driver testing and targeted traffic stops right across the state, with a 'no tolerance' policy in place for drivers doing the wrong thing.
"Many South Australians will be driving rather than flying to their holiday destinations this long weekend, and it's everyone's responsibility to ensure that this doesn't result in any more lives lost on our roads," he said.
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