Nine pedestrians killed in six months as Adelaide records spike in road deaths

A worrying trend is emerging on South Australia’s roads as the death toll climbs, prompting renewed safety calls.

Serious injuries on South Australian roads from 2022 to 2025 measured against the target outlined in the Road Safety Strategy. Picture: RAA Supplied

Pedestrian deaths have surged on Adelaide’s roads, with nine lives lost in the first six months of 2025 — a 137 per cent increase compared to the five-year average.

The spike comes amid three incidents in just the past week, with a man killed on Main South Rd at Old Reynella on July 7 and two pedestrians injured by a learner driver in a suburban shopping centre car park on July 12.

New data analysed by the RAA shows two-thirds of this year’s pedestrian fatalities occurred in darkness, and at least a third involved hit-and-run drivers.

As of July 1, 38 lives had been lost and 402 people were seriously injured on South Australian roads.

To date, that number has risen to 42 lives lost and 431 serious injuries.

RAA senior traffic engineer Matt Vertudaches described the start to the year as “devastating”.

“Pedestrian fatalities in the metropolitan area have spiked at an alarming rate this year,” he said.

“We need to do more to look out for some of our most vulnerable road users.”

Nine pedestrians killed in six months as Adelaide records sharp spike in fatalities, with hit-and-runs and night crashes among key concerns. Pic RoyVanDerVegt

Older road users continue to be over-represented in the road toll, with those aged 70 and above accounting for a quarter of all deaths this year — the highest fatality rate per capita of any age group.

More people have died on metro roads than usual, with 45 per cent of fatalities occurring in Adelaide, compared to a typical 33 per cent, while regional fatalities have reached a record low.

Multiple lives have been lost on Dukes Highway, South Road, Uley Road and Echunga Road.

To meet its 2031 safety targets, South Australia must record fewer than 75 lives lost and fewer than 614 serious injuries this year — numbers now looking increasingly out of reach.