South Australia Police Traffic Services Branch conducted the inaugural Operation Danger from 4 to 10 September 2023 in a state-wide effort to curb dangerous driving on South Australian roads.
The following results were obtained by police officers state-wide during both static and patrol policing as a road safety enforcement operation.
A total of 590 dangerous driving practices were detected during the operation, including some of these risky behaviours:
- 17 drivers were caught speeding at more than 30 km/h over the posted speed limit
- 77 follow too close
- 58 traffic light offences
- 131 fail to give way
- 7 change lanes to danger
- 14 fail to keep left
- 9 misuse motor vehicle (hoon driving)
During the operation, 7268 drivers were tested, with 105 drivers detected for either an alcohol (26) or drug (79) driving offence.
Traffic Services Branch Officer in Charge, Superintendent Darren Fielke said,
"The number of people detected engaging in dangerous driver behaviour during Operation Danger is still concerning for police. While a large percentage of road users do the right thing there are others that continue to engage in driving behaviour that is dangerous to both themselves and other road users.
"Conducting targeted road safety operations such as Operation Danger highlights these issues. Dangerous road use is a behavioural issue. It's behaviour on the road that people choose to do or don't think to do. Making the right choice will save lives.
"SAPOL will continue to conduct road safety operations throughout the year to complement the day-to-day road safety activities undertaken by police. Targeting the Fatal 5 contributing factors to lives lost and serious injuries, which includes dangerous road users is a key component to driving down the number of lives lost on our roads."
Incidents of note during Operation Danger included an extreme speeding incident in Woomera, Stansbury and Dernancourt. Police caught a 28-year-old man from Coober Pedy travelling 156km/h in a 110km/h zone on Friday afternoon in Woomera. He was fined $2495 and issued an immediate loss of licence.
In metropolitan Adelaide, police caught a 49-year-old man from Holden Hill in a speeding and drug driving motorcycle incident in Dernancourt on Sunday. The man has been charged with speeding at 67 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, failing to stop for police and driving under the influence of methamphetamine.
Police also caught a 38-year-old man travelling 186 km/h in a 100 km/h zone with a blood alcohol reading of 0.198 in Stansbury. He was reported for drunk driving and aggravated extreme speed and was issued with an instant loss of licence for 12 months and will appear in court at a later date.
SAPOL's Traffic Services Branch will deploy its next road safety operation, Operation Stop Drink Drug Drive on Friday 15 to Sunday 17 September.
