Peter Malinauskas and leaders have joined forces to issue a plea for SA to behave safely behind the wheel

The Arrive Alive campaign has launched, coinciding with the premiere of While I Was Sleeping – a documentary chronicling the journey of former deputy editor Ben Hyde.

Premier Peter Malinauskas, along with leaders in emergency services and road safety, have joined forces to issue a desperate plea for South Australians to behave safely behind the wheel.

The Advertiser is today launching the Arrive Alive campaign, coinciding with the premiere of While I Was Sleeping – a documentary chronicling the journey of former deputy editor Ben Hyde.

Three years ago, Ben was hit from behind by a car barrelling towards him at 170km/h, leaving him with life-changing injuries.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said drivers have a responsibility to act safely on the road. Picture: Matt Loxton

The new campaign aims to stamp out dangerous driving and highlight the serious consequences of recklessness on the road.

In particular, it urges drivers to slow down and pay attention to the road at all times.

Speeding and distraction are two of the “fatal five” causes of road trauma.

The others are drink and drug driving, not wearing seatbelts and dangerous road users.

Mr Malinauskas said drivers have a responsibility to act safely on the road.

“When you’re behind the wheel, all it takes is a split second for something to go wrong,” he said.

“All it takes is a moment of inattention to result in a mistake that can end a life, or change one forever.

“Every time we drive, it’s incumbent upon each of us to take the responsibility seriously.”

Police and Emergency Services Minister Dan Cregan said targeted messaging is a vital way to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatal crashes on South Australian roads.

“The impacts of road trauma are ongoing, and this campaign highlights how far too many victims have their lives changed forever by those who choose to put the community at risk,” he said.

“Selfish actions behind the wheel can have the most devastating consequences and the scenes that follow stay with our emergency services personnel long after their response.”.

READ MORE:

* WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY

* READ BEN’S STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS

* INCREDIBLE STORY OF SURVIVAL

Dan Cregan has vowed that those who flout the law would be held accountable. Picture : RoyVPhotography.

Mr Cregan vowed those who flout the law would be held accountable for their actions.

“Tough penalties are in place and we make no apologies for taking dangerous drivers off our roads to keep South Australians safe,” he said.

SA Police Traffic Services Branch officer in charge Superintendent Darren Fielke said “each year, hundreds of people receive serious, and often life changing injuries following a road crash”.

In 2023, there were 117 deaths on South Australian roads – the highest number since 2010. “Please drive carefully and takecare on the road,” Supt Fielke said.

SA Ambulance Service chief executive Rob Elliott paramedics regularly attended incidents of road trauma.

“Our crews witness the heartbreaking consequences of road crashes every day,” he said.

“In just a single moment, lives can be changed for the worse.

“It’s essential to prioritise safety on every journey, so we can all reach our destinations and ‘Arrive Alive’.”

RAA chief executive Nick Reade said road trauma tears apart and affects too many South Australian families every year.

Ben, wife Tania and boys Oliver, 8, and Ari, 5. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“Road safety is a shared responsibility between all road users as we work towards our target of zero fatalities on our roads by 2050,” he said.

“RAA will continue to partner with leaders and road safety experts to help educate our community so we have safer drivers,safer roads and safer communities.”

Ben’s crash happened shortly after he had left work on the night of October 4, 2021.

Just after 10.10pm, as he turned onto West Tce in the Adelaide CBD, his car was struck by drugged driver Luigi Gligora.

Ben was trapped unconscious in his car, and suffered a range of injuries that could have been fatal.

In While I Was Sleeping, he speaks to the people who saved his life after the crash and supported him throughout his recovery, that is still continuing today.