Nearly half of people killed on SA roads in 2017 weren’t wearing a seatbelt

NEARLY half of all people who died during the horror year on South Australia’s roads weren’t following one of the most basic rules of road safety — wearing a seatbelt.

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A SHOCKING 42 per cent of vehicle occupants killed on South Australian roads in 2017 were not wearing seatbelts.

Almost half a century since the wearing of restraints was made compulsory in SA, Road Safety Minister Chris Picton has pleaded with road users to take responsibility for their own safety.

“There were many lives that could have been saved in the past year if people had just worn seatbelts,” he said.

Police and road safety authorities say poor choices by drivers and motorcyclists, the latter accounting for a quarter of fatalities, had pushed the road toll back over 100 after a record low in 2016.

Although the 2017 toll was the fifth-lowest on record, the total of 101, including the deaths of three children, was 15 more than the previous year.

A man died after this shocking single-car smash at Elwomple, near Tailem Bend, in his which his car was torn in two. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Police figures showed motorcyclist deaths had tripled from 2016 and more than doubled than the previous five-year average of 11 fatalities. The figures also showed:

MOTORCYCLISTS accounted for nearly a quarter of the road toll when only four per cent of all registered vehicles are motorbikes.

THE number of pedestrians killed increased from nine in 2016 to 17, with 14 of these in metropolitan areas.

SERIOUS injuries declined significantly — about 140 less than in the previous year.

A tourist on her way to Adelaide died in this crash just days after Christmas, and her father and two other motorists were injured. The smash occurred about 2km north of the small town Coonalpyn, on the Dukes Highway. Picture: Tom Huntley

Frustrated at community complacency, the Motor Accident Commission says the state must aim for a zero road toll and Mr Picton says all road users must take responsibility for their behaviour.

“With the state’s annual road toll today resetting to zero, all South Australian have the opportunity to make a new start, and a commitment that their driving behaviour will reduce the state’s road trauma,” he said.

“The tripling of the motorcyclist road toll last year is a serious problem that we can’t allow to repeat. We are examining every option — including licensing, education, protective gear and infrastructure — but ultimately we need motorcyclists to make smarter riding decisions.”

Last month The Advertiser revealed a P-plate scheme similar to that applied to drivers could be implemented for new motorcyclists after the worst year of rider fatalities in more than two decades.

MAC road safety communications manager Matt Hanton said motorcyclist deaths on SA roads were a “significant over-representation” and is “of particular concern”.

“In most cases the motorcycle deaths we have seen this year haven’t been caused by bad weather or road conditions. Many were riders making poor, unsafe decisions,” he said.

“Looking forward to 2018 we need to hammer home the message that every road user — drivers, passengers, riders, cyclists and pedestrians — all have a part to play in keeping our roads safe.”

SA Police Assistant Commissioner Bronwyn Killmier implored motorists to make the right choices.

“It can be very difficult to find a clear cut reason why (the toll) has risen again, however we do know that it has been trending down for decades, and police will continue to work hard to continue that trend for the benefit of the whole community,” she said.