Bikes cop brunt of Adelaide Hills speeding blitz

A major police blitz has caught a thousand fewer speeding drivers this month across the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu but fatal mistakes continue to take their toll.

Three more lives were lost on regional roads in November, triggering a new police plea for safer driving on SA’s local thoroughfares.

The second month of Operation Safe Hills - which covers the Hills and Fleurieu service area - saw a three per cent increase in motorcycles caught speeding over the past month, with 80 fines issued.

Balhannah, Port Elliott, Greenock, Echunga and Paris Creek ranked in the top five locations for speeding offences.

Operation Safe Hills - November Statistics

From November 1 to November 30, 2021:

• 1539 drivers/riders detected for a speeding offences
• 1513 drivers/riders were detected speeding up to 29km/h over the limit (98%)
• 18 drivers/riders detected speeding 30-44kph over the limit. (1.2%)
• 8 drivers/riders detected speeding 45kph or more over the speed limit. (0.5%)
• 80 detections were from motorcycles (5.2%) Up from 3% in October
• 47% (725) of detections were people who reside within the hills environs
• 53% (814) were people who reside outside of this area 

The operation saw an overall reduction in the number of drivers caught speeding with a total of 1539 fines issued compared to 2523 in October.

However, three people died with investigations continuing into a fatal crash at Angaston on November 10.

The driver, a 41-year-old Parafield Gardens man and his passenger, a 35-year-old Elizabeth South man both died at the scene.

A 21-year-old Findon woman also died after her Daihatsu sedan crashed into a tree on November 8 on Kangaroo Island.

Emergency crews attend the scene of a serious crash at Angaston on November 10. Picture Jason Katsaras

Superintendent Bob Gray, Officer in Charge Traffic Services Branch said the number of people recklessly ignoring speed limits was still far too high.

“Speed limits are there for a reason,” he said.

“The road conditions in the Hills are such that every driver needs to be more vigilant and more aware of sharing the roads responsibly.

“The dangers of speeding on narrow, winding or dirt roads are very clear.

“If you are irresponsible or impatient, you are choosing to endanger your life and the lives of other innocent people using the roads.”

Operations Safe Hills continues until April 30.