Two out of three speeding fines issued on country roads

The busiest streets in the state may all be in Adelaide but new RAA figures reveal that’s not where the speed cameras are working hardest. See the (big) numbers.

Two in every three speeding drivers are caught by police officers on country roads rather than Adelaide, shocking new figures show.

And 1400 hoons have been caught in the past five years driving at 45km/h or more above the speed limit in regional areas, RAA analysis shows.

The motoring organisation’s country safety plea comes as South Australians make their way home for the return to school on Monday.

RAA road safety manager Charles Mountain said of those caught by officers, 68 per cent of the state’s 204,146 speeding fines and warnings handed out by officers were in regional areas.

Where SAPOL issues the most fines

He said many South Australians should be aware of the dangers as they travelled home to Adelaide or regional cities and towns after holidays.

“Roads in regional SA – especially those areas popular with holiday-makers – will be busier than normal as the holidays end so we urge drivers to remain vigilant and exercise caution,” Mr Mountain said.

“It’s important to remember that the posted speed limit is the maximum – even when overtaking.”

Speeding figures recorded by police outside of the capital are in stark contrast to population distribution.

Latest Census figures show 1.3 million of the state’s 1.77 million people live in Adelaide.

SA Police officer in charge of traffic Superintendent Darren Fielke said the reasons for the imbalance were not simple to explain.

Isobel Vlahiotis lost her sister Odetta Maxwell on a country road and has a message for drivers. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“It is not as simple to say it is because of one (extra compliance by officers in the country) or the other (worse driving on remote roads),’’ he said.

“SAPOL are constantly active in the policing of the regional road network to ensure compliance by all road users, this includes targeting the fatal five – speeding, distraction, drink/drug driving, dangerous road users and seatbelts.”

Police officers are more active in regional areas and the figures don’t include fixed camera detections, which are mostly in Adelaide.

What each region is worth in fines ($)

Superintendent Fielke said 60 per cent of lives lost on SA roads, and 45 per cent of serious injuries, in 2023 were on country roads.

“SAPOL continues to direct resources to police regional roads and regularly conduct targeted operations to reduce the incidence and impact of road trauma,’’ he said.

Police figures also show police are having a bigger impact on bad driver behaviour on city roads than in the country.

Since 2018, Adelaide police officer interactions leading to fines and warnings have decreased from 16,661 to 11,067 a year.

But in the regions the trend has been the reverse, up from 25,172 to 30,227.

The RAA has an ongoing campaign to address country road funding shortfalls, to make conditions as safe as possible.

“We’ve had a disastrous start to the year, with 68 lives lost on our roads already and speeding is a contributing factor in many crashes and one of the fatal five,” Mr Mountain said.