Police figures reveal more than 202,000 motorists were detected speeding in 2018-19
One of our worst speeding offenders was caught doing 201km/h in a 100km/h zone. Alarmingly, more than 200,000 other leadfoot drivers were busted in the past year.
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South Australia’s worst leadfoot motorist was caught 105km/h above the limit, as a road safety survey shows the concerning number of drivers who admit speeding.
Police figures analysed by The Advertiser reveal more than 202,000 motorists were detected by fixed or mobile cameras, or officers, speeding in 2018-19.
That’s an average of 556 a day.
The figures include 569 drivers travelling at 45km/h or more above the speed limit.
Three hoons were clocked doing more than 200km/h, while one was nabbed doing 165km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Drivers’ attitudes towards speeding have been highlighted in a survey, which shows almost half (48 per cent) of respondents admit exceeding limits by more than 10km/h.
The RAA survey of almost 1400 motorists reveals drivers are most likely to speed while overtaking (73 per cent), when unsure of the limit (32 per cent) and passing roadworks without workers (32 per cent). RAA Road Safety senior manager Charles Mountain said speeding drivers were not only risking a fine but also their lives and the lives of others, especially when travelling more than 10km/h above the speed limit.
“Research shows speed is a major contributing factor to serious and fatal crashes because you travel a longer distance before you react and it takes longer to stop,’’ Mr Mountain said.
“This is especially crucial in metropolitan areas where there are pedestrians and many other vehicles sharing the road, such as at shopping strips and schools.’’
Mr Mountain said creeping over the speed limit by 5km/h to 10km/h was potentially dangerous and urged motorists to drive to the conditions.
He said the survey showed respondents believed a visible police presence was the most effective way of discouraging drivers from speeding.
“However, people also indicated that speed cameras, fines and demerit points also played a part in deterring speeding, highlighting that a range of measures is required to reduce the risks associated with breaking speed limits,’’ he said.
Mr Mountain said the results supported the RAA’s calls for overtaking lanes at regular intervals on regional roads.
“The survey also shows the need for consistent signage of road speed limits and at road work sites to help motorists drive at the correct speed.’’
One of the worst speeding offences in the past financial year was committed by a P-plate driver who was clocked 101km/h above the limit in the state’s Mid North last month. Police detected the Holden Commodore sedan travelling at 201km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Horrocks Highway at Barinia, just north of Clare, about 9.30pm on June 14.
The driver, a 28-year-old Parafield Gardens man, was fined and immediately lost his licence for six months. A police spokeswoman said the chance of being involved in a fatal or serious-injury crash increased exponentially when speeding.
In handing down the State Budget in June, Treasurer Rob Lucas announced hoon drivers would be hit with significant fine increases of 60 per cent.
Fines for drivers caught 30km/h to less than 45km/h above the limit increased from $920 to $1472, while those detected speeding by 45km/h or more jumped from $1036 to $1658. Mr Lucas said at the time: “Brainless idiots and hoons are blatantly thumbing their nose at the law, risking the lives of others on our roads and ought to be whacked.”