WITH the October long weekend and school holidays encouraging many South Australians to hit the road, SA Police has warned they will be taking a 'no tolerance' policy when conducting static and mobile driver testing across the state, in an attempt to ensure a fatality-free weekend.
Traffic Services Branch officer in charge Superintendent Bob Gray said the Fatal Five factors, which include speeding, distraction, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt and dangerous driving, were well known contributors to crashes and trauma on our roads and there was no excuse for anyone not obeying the life-saving rules.
"Many South Australians will be driving to local holiday spots this weekend and absolutely every driver is responsible for ensuring this doesn't result in any serious or fatal crashes on our roads," he said.
"As part of Operation High Impact running for the month of October, we're launching Operation Safe Long Weekend to increase driver awareness of road trauma and the impact that the Fatal Five have on families and communities.
"Every road crash is avoidable and the smallest mistake can cause catastrophic harm."
Nearly half of the people who have died on regional roads this year have resided 20 kilometres or less from where the collision occurred.
- ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER IAN PARROTT
To date, 71 lives have been lost on South Australian roads this year, a number of lives lost that was not reached until the end of October in 2020.
Police are appealing to all drivers to stick to the speed limit, not to drive after drinking or taking drugs, to keep their eyes on the road at all times, to ensure that everyone in their vehicle is wearing a seatbelt and to drive with regard for road rules and other road users.
SAPOL has also been busy putting together a campaign targeting drivers on regional roads.
Filmed in the past week at Callington, the campaign will be rolling out later this month.
In consultation with SAPOL's Major Crash Investigation Unit, six ads will be filmed depicting the catastrophic impact on vehicles and their occupants when collisions happen involving excessive speed, driver distraction, failure to wear a seatbelt, drink and drug driving and driver fatigue.
Impacts that Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott says have far reaching consequences for communities.
"This campaign has been carefully crafted after extensive research into the attitudes and behaviours of drivers on regional roads, particularly those who live and work in regional areas," AC Parrott said.
"While only 30 per cent of South Australia's population lives in regional or rural areas, an alarming 70pc of deaths happen on regional roads.
"These ads will demonstrate the devastating effects of the Fatal Five when driving in regional and rural areas and urge drivers to make life saving decisions on the road, whether they're a local or a visitor."
Research conducted by SAPOL's Media Road Safety Unit found that regional people believe it is predominantly city people who die on regional roads.
But AC Parrot says the statistics show otherwise.
"Nearly half of the people who have died on regional roads this year have resided 20 kilometres or less from where the collision occurred," AC Parrott said.
Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia said SAPOL's newest road safety campaign was a crucial initiative to save regional lives.
"Country people lose their lives on country roads - it's not a myth and we urgently need to have this conversation with regional South Australians," he said.
"Driving close to home does not guarantee your safety in the regions and it's not enough to know the road like the back of your hand."
The campaign will go to market in mid-October across TV, billboards, regional press, digital platforms and in regional venues such as pubs and road houses.
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