‘Stupid’: Cops blast distracted young drivers after horror weekend on roads

Three heartbroken families are in mourning after a horror weekend on our roads – as police blast young drivers distracted by social media.

Three heartbroken families are in mourning after a horrific 30 hours on the state’s roads – as SA Police blast drivers distracted by social media.

Following three fatal crashes between Friday evening and Saturday night, SA Police have savaged drivers for being distracted by social media while behind the wheel.

In a press conference on Sunday, Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said young drivers need to take extra caution on the road, after a 17-year-old and 22-year-old driver were involved in two fatal crashes this weekend.

“You’re not invisible, you’re not bullet proof and there is no kudos in putting yourself on social media doing stupid things in your car,” Mr Parrott said.

“You might be liked by your friends on TikTok for five seconds, but you may end up on the front page of a newspaper or the headline of a news service.”

Police did not confirm if TikTok or any form of social media, was a contributing factor to the three fatal crashes over the weekend.

Mr Parrott said the current road toll was “insane” – and urged drivers to stop drink driving, speeding, driving dangerously and to avoid distractions while driving.

“If you’re not going to listen to me, listen to the heartache from family members who are asking the same message.”

Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott Picture: Brenton Edwards

Two cars collided overnight along Main South Rd in Adelaide’s south Picture: 7news

On Saturday night, the 22-year-old male driver of a Ford Mustang collided with a 40-year-old driver in Holden station wagon at Windsor Gardens.

The 40-year-old woman died at the scene, and the 22-year-old man was later charged with causing dangerous driving.

Police said according to witness statements, the Ford Mustang was weaving in and out of traffic prior to the crash.

As investigations into the crash continue, Mr Parrott said the 22-year-old’s Mustang vehicle was a minor contributing factor to the crash.

“It really doesn’t matter what type of car you drive, cars are effectively a one time bullet and they can cause carnage regardless of what they are,” Mr Parrott said.

“The fact that people would consider this to be a powerful car is almost immaterial to the circumstances,” he said.

“If you drive safely and appropriately on our roads, every car and every person would be safe.”

Two cars collided along Main South Rd in Adelaide’s south. Picture: 7news

59-year-old Barossa man, Danny Westoff, died after crashing into a tree at Vine Vale, near Tanunda in the Barossa Valley. Picture: 7NEWS

Mr Parrott said police have “doubled the number of drink driving operations for the foreseeable future” to “hopefully prevent loss of life on our roads.”

“Ultimately it’s the decisions that every single individual makes when they’re driving their car, which leads to them or somebody else potentially being killed on our roads.”

Following the total 35 fatal crashes on our roads this year, Mr Parrott believes speeding has been the most common factor to almost 50 per cent of the crashes.

“There may be other contributing factors such as not wearing a seatbelt or drink driving, but speeding is the number one concern on our roads at the moment,” he said.

On Friday, well-known Danny Westhoff, 59, father to former football players Justin and Matthew, died in a motorcycle crash at Barossa Valley.

While on Saturday morning, Glenelg mother of two, Georgina Heath, 51, died at the scene of a crash, following a two-car collision on Main South Rd, Hackham.