MARKERS representing the hundred of men, women and children lost through road fatalities on regional roads during the past decade will be on display across the state by RAA, as part of National Road Safety Week.
RAA Road Safety and Infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain said RAA was using the markers to highlight the tragic loss of 576 lives on regional roads between 2011 and 2020.
"RAA hopes these markers will make people reflect on the emotional toll of road trauma on victims, their families and friends, and the broader community,'' he said.
"SA government figures show 59 per cent of the total 977 lives lost in SA during the past decade were a result of collisions on regional roads.
"Higher speeds on rural roads compared with the majority of metropolitan roads, coupled with the often-long distances travelled in these regions and driver fatigue contribute to these higher number of fatalities.''
SA is the host city for this year's National Road Safety Week, an annual initiative created by the Safer Australian Roads and Highways group to honour those who have lost their lives or been injured on Australia's roads.
The week highlights the impact of road trauma and campaigns to reduce the number of crashes due to unsafe roads and driving.
State Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia has reinforced the road safety message.
"Forty-three people have lost their lives on South Australian roads so far this year - that's 43 chairs left empty at family dinners and catch ups with mates,'' he said.
"The SA government is determined to do all it can to improve road safety and raise awareness. It's why we're investing heavily in road safety campaigns and improved road infrastructure, as well as introducing tough new laws to crack down on dangerous drivers.
"It is, however, crucial that every road user obeys the road rules and ensures they're in the right frame of mind when they get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.''
South Australian Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said road trauma was overwhelmingly caused by road users taking unnecessary risks.
"The Fatal 5 factors that contribute to road trauma are drink and drug driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, dangerous road use and distraction,'' he said.
The fatality markers will be placed during the week in the following regional centres - Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Clare, Port Lincoln, Renmark, Murray Bridge and Victor Harbor.
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