SA Police are asking motorists to make smart choices on the roads over the coming long weekend.
With 21 people having died on the state's roads this year (compared with 14 at the same time last year), SA Police will have a strong focus on the key factors known to contribute to serious and fatality crashes.
The so-called 'Fatal Five' are speeding, seatbelt use, distraction – particularly via mobile phone use - drink/drug driving and recidivist dangerous road users.
The acting officer in charge of the Traffic Support Branch, Inspector Amit Sareen, said police are aware that the community will use the extra day off in ways that will see they commuting greater distances than normal.
"This increases the risk, which is why we are asking people to make smart choices," he said. "That means taking regular rest breaks, sticking to the speed limit, waiting for safe passing lanes, belting up and concentrating on the task of driving.
"I would also remind anyone heading to the races on Monday to take public transport if they are intending to consume alcohol.
"It will come as a surprise to no one that police will have a strong drink and drug-driving focus around Morphettville Racecourse that day."
Today he also released preliminary results from Operation Safe Speed – a four-day, state-wide targeted operation that this week focused on drivers exceeding posted speed limits.
A total of 911 speeding drivers were detected during the blitz, including an 18-year-old woman who was stopped after being recorded driving at 162kph in a 110kph-zone on the Karoonda Highway on Wednesday (6 March) and a 18-year-old man detected on Grand Junction Road driving at 129kph in a 60kph-zone yesterday.
In both cases the drivers were issued with an expiation notice ($1522, including the Victims of Crime Levy) and instantly lost their licence for six months.
NOTE: Last year one person died on SA roads over the Adelaide Cup long weekend – and there have been five deaths and 41 people seriously injured over the last five years.
