Drugs, alcohol involved in more than a third of fatal crashes, Superintendent Darren Fielke issues warning to ‘selfish pricks’

One of the state’s top cops has put “selfish pricks” on notice ahead of Christmas, as new figures reveal the impact of drugs on SA roads.

“Selfish pricks” have contributed to almost a third of deaths on South Australian roads this year, with one of the state’s top cops putting drug and drink drivers on notice ahead of Christmas.

Traffic Services Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Darren Fielke has issued a stern warning to motorists as police prepare to crack down over the long weekend.

“If you drink and or take drugs and drive, you are a selfish prick,” Supt Fielke said.

“The message is quite clear: don’t do it.”

New statistics reveal illicit drugs have played a part in 18 per cent of fatal crashes so far, while alcohol has contributed to 14 per cent of deaths on the state’s roads.

“We can’t police stupid,” Supt Fielke said.

“We can’t police people who make stupid, irrational decisions.

Traffic Services Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Darren Fielke has labelled drug and drink drivers “selfish pricks” as the impact of drugs on South Australian roads is revealed. Picture: Dean Martin

“We can’t police stupid when it comes to risk-taking behaviour.

“We can do all we can to enforce it and educate it, but we can’t police stupid people all the time and that’s a real challenge for us.

“People who are behaving like selfish pricks and people who are just being stupid cause carnage.”

Supt Fielke said drug and drink driving often exacerbated other Fatal Five factors including speeding, distractions, dangerous driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

“It’s a choice you make,” Supt Fielke said.

“If you take drugs, you make a concerted choice then to get in behind the wheel, similar to what you do with drinking.”

A 37-year-old Adelaide man died after being hit by a car at Elizabeth Grove on Friday morning. Picture: 7 News

Supt Fielke said thousands of roadside drugs tests, which detect cannabis, methamphetamines and MDMA in drivers’ systems, had been done in 2023.

“What’s important to understand is that it doesn’t really matter whether you have meth, cannabis or MDMA in your system,” Supt Fielke said.

“You’ve got drugs in your system, it impairs your ability to drive, you shouldn’t be driving.”

The state’s road toll on Friday morning climbed to 111 compared to 66 at the same time last year after a pedestrian was hit by a car at Elizabeth Grove.

A 37-year-old Adelaide man was killed, while the car’s driver, a 31-year-old man, was uninjured and assisting police with their investigation.

Supt Fielke said “selfish pricks” who chose to drive after taking drugs or drinking “cause carnage” on South Australian roads. Picture: Dean Martin

Police on Friday announced a long weekend blitz, with extra drug and alcohol roadside testing rolled out ahead of Christmas.

“We want people to have a great holiday period,” Supt Fielke said.

“We want people to have Christmas with their families and really have a good time but we want them to do it responsibly.”

Supt Fielke said every life lost on South Australian roads was more than a number.

“The ripple effect of what can happen when a life is lost from your family, from your community, from your friendship group, from your sporting club, whatever it might be, is almost incomprehensible,” Supt Fielke said.

“If people aren’t getting that message now, they need to really sit up and take a lot of notice really quickly.”