Lowest road toll on record in SA for 2016

SOUTH Australia’s road toll has hit a record figure that has police much happier — but authorities still say there is room for improvement.

SOUTH Australia’s road toll has fallen to its lowest on record but authorities have warned against complacency, saying there is still room for improvement.

There were 87 fatalities on the state’s roads in 2016, seven fewer than the previous record low of 94 deaths in 2012 and 15 fewer than last year.

New Transport Department figures provided to the Sunday Mail reveal speeding and drink-driving continue to be a contributing factor in about one in four fatal crashes.

The State Government figures also show:

PEDESTRIAN fatalities halved from 18 in 2015 to nine last year.

MOTORCYCLISTS accounted for eight fatalities, three fewer than in 2015.

VICTIMS not wearing a seatbelt dropped to 12 per cent, compared with the five-year average of 30 per cent.

FATIGUE contributed to at least 14 fatal crashes last year, compared with 10 in 2015.

TRUCK drivers killed in crashes increased from one in 2015 to five last year.

SA Police Traffic Support Branch superintendent Anthony Fioravanti said several factors may have contributed to the reduced road toll.

“Safer cars and roads definitely reduce road trauma but so does community compliance of road rules, education, highly visible policing and road rule enforcement by SA Police,” he said.

Latest figures show the number of serious injuries recorded on the state’s roads last year was 718 to December 30. The record low was 711 in 2014.

Motor Accident Commission community engagement manager Matt Hanton said there were too many avoidable deaths on the roads.

“The saddest part is complacency and poor driver behaviour including excessive speed, failure to wear a seatbelt, drink driving, disobeying simple road rules and inattention have all contributed to death and injury on our roads this year,” he said.

“While this reduction in both deaths and serious injuries is a considerable achievement, there is still so much more to do — too many people are still dying or being seriously injured on our roads in crashes that could’ve been avoided.”

Road Safety Minister Peter Malinauskas said that, while the record low road toll was welcome, it was “sobering to remember that 87 lives have been lost”.

“Road crashes have a devastating impact on families. The pain and emotional impact on victims and their loved ones, particularly at this time of year, is immeasurable,” he said.