Rise in SA hoon drivers caught 45km/h or above speed limit prompts police crackdown

Police have vowed to hit the roads hard and put the brakes on dangerous drivers, saying they will be caught. It comes as a rising number of SA motorists are being clocked way over the speed limit.

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Frustrated police have put South Australia’s most dangerous leadfoot motorists on notice as latest figures reveal more are being caught each year speeding substantially above the limit.

It comes as tens of thousands of drivers prepare to hit the road for the long weekend to visit regional tourist destinations for the first time since coronavirus restrictions were eased.

Police figures analysed by the RAA show the number of motorists caught travelling 45km/h or more above the speed limit has increased 42 per cent over the past five financial years.

Detections have risen every year from 562 in 2013-14 to 801 in 2018-19 and, in the first nine months of this financial year, 672 hoon drivers already have been busted.

Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott told The Advertiser police were concerned about the increased number of drivers caught speeding excessively on SA roads.

Mr Parrott said a vehicle could be likened to a one tonne bullet with the potential to kill if driven irresponsibly at high speed.

“At those types of speeds you, anyone else in your car and anyone else on the road have basically got no chance when something goes wrong. It’s pretty much all over,” he said.

“We’re fed up with some of the behaviour that some people are displaying on our roads particularly around the careless regard they have for themselves and others.

“Just because the roads have been freer of traffic doesn’t make it your own private racetrack. There are still dangers and risks involved no matter what the traffic level.”

Mr Parrott said police would be out in force conducting a major road safety operation in the metropolitan area and regions over the long weekend.

“You’re lucky if we catch you because we probably saved your life and or somebody else’s and probably saved you from a jail term if you kill someone else in a road crash,” he said.

An unlicensed driver was detected travelling at 186km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Southern Expressway. Picture: SA Police

The same driver was then caught at 205km/h in an 80km/h zone on the same road moments later. Picture: SA Police

RAA safety and infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain said the constant rise in hoon driver detections was a “very worrying trend”.

“Such irresponsible behaviour can have catastrophic consequences for the driver, passengers and other road users,” Mr Mountain said.

“Any vehicle travelling at such reckless speeds is a potentially lethal weapon.”

Police Minister Corey Wingard warned hoon drivers they would be caught and encouraged officers to “throw the book at people who are just abusing the system”.

“No one I know would accept or condone people doing 40km/h, 50km/h or 60km/h above the speed limit. It’s just ludicrous and it’s dangerous,” Mr Wingard told The Advertiser.

“You can do incredible damage to yourself, your family and other road users and you’ve got take responsibility for that.”