Aussie drivers accused of 'selfish' road act amid widespread trend: 'Needs to stop'
Police are urgently warning the public to slow down and drive safely, as road deaths in the country's south soar to dizzying new heights.
Across South Australia, so far 17 people have been killed on the state's roads this year already, with "vulnerable" residents, including pedestrians and cyclists, overrepresented in the grim statistics.
Police say by this time in 2024, 13 people had died, with the spike prompting officers to renew their plea to motorists — particularly due to the fact dangerous driving and speeding were the two biggest factors contributing to the shocking death tally.
It's a trend that appears to be taking place nationwide, with 2024 crowned the deadliest on Australia's roads in over a decade. Governments are facing mounting pressure to take bold action to reduce road fatalities, with data revealing the death toll has been rising in recent years at a pace not seen since 1966.
Research conducted by the federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) showed that 1,300 people died on Australian roads in 2024 — up from 1,258 in 2023.
It's reflective of four years of surging deaths on our roads, which has not occurred since before seatbelts were made mandatory in the '60s. A mind-blowing 359 people died in the three months to the end of December last year.
In SA, Acting Superintendent Jaimi Burns said regional roads continue to be where most of the fatal accidents occur in the state. "Serious road trauma often involves one or more of the Fatal Five road behaviours that significantly increase the risk of being involved in a crash," Burns told media.
"Tragically, this means almost all lives lost and serious injuries could have been prevented through safer road behaviours. With distraction and speeding playing a major role in so many crashes last year, the critical message to road users across South Australia is clear — these selfish behaviours need to stop."
She said police are "pleading" with the public to take notice of the advice, especially among younger drivers. Burns said young drivers aged 16 to 24, along with passengers under 16, were disproportionately affected in fatal and serious injury crashes.
To highlight the issue, SAPOL has released images from mobile detection cameras that appear to show drivers distracted behind the wheel.
In one image, a driver is seen holding a wrap in one hand and a mobile phone in the other, with neither hand on the wheel. Another photo captures a different driver also with no hands on the wheel, instead holding a can of drink and their phone.
Another motorist was photographed with both hands on the wheel, but their smartphone was resting on their bicep. In a fourth image taken by a detection camera, a driver is holding a bottle of drink in one hand, though it is unclear whether their left hand is on the wheel.
In 2024, 11 young drivers lost their lives, while 155 sustained serious injuries. Additionally, three passengers under 16 were killed, and 16 suffered serious injuries.
"South Australia Police will remain committed to enforcing road safety through education and statewide enforcement to deter and detect unsafe driving behaviours," Burns said.
"It is crucial for everyone to recognize that making responsible and safe choices on the road can prevent crashes and save lives."
In 2024, 91 lives lost were lost on SA roads and 847 people were left with serious injuries resulting from road crashes, with the majority of incidents occurring on regional roads.
Distraction, driving dangerously and speeding were the leading causes of last year's 847 serious injury crashes. Additionally. drug driving was a contributing factor in 70 regional serious injury crashes and 129 motorcycle serious injury crashes.
"Speed is the key factor in 99 per cent of crashes," Dr Chris Stokes, road safety researcher at the University of Adelaide previously told Yahoo. "The faster you hit an object, the harder the impact is going to be."
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