More reckless hoon drivers caught on SA roads – and now they face jail before they kill someone

The number of SA drivers nabbed at insane speeds has soared. See shocking examples like a 16-year-old L-plater caught at double the speed limit – twice in one day.

Record numbers of hoon drivers are being caught at staggering speeds, endangering the lives of innocent South Australian road users.

SA Police figures analysed by the RAA show 5410 leadfoot motorists were detected at speeds of 45km/h or more above the limit on the state’s roads between July 2015 and June 2021.

Road safety authorities have denounced the unacceptable and shameful behaviour, which has increased 41.7 per cent over the seven-year period and cost drivers almost $4.7m in fines.

A further 1113 motorists whose driving was considered so dangerous as to warrant more than a fine and nine demerit points were arrested or reported in the past three financial years.

Tough new anti-hoon laws, which came into effect in late 2021, will result in motorists who drive at excessive or extreme speeds facing jail and increased licence disqualifications.

RAA safety and infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain.

RAA safety and infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain said it was not safe for anyone to travel at high speeds regardless of whether modern vehicles had the capability.

He said the “reckless and irresponsible behaviour” disregarded the safety of all road users.

“It’s extremely concerning that increasing numbers of drivers are being caught travelling at such excessive speeds, which can have catastrophic consequences for themselves and anyone on or near the road,’’ Mr Mountain said.

“It puts the lives of other road users at great risk and, if you make a mistake when travelling so fast above the speed limit, it will almost certainly cost you your life and those in the vehicle if you crash.”

Among the worst speeding offences recorded over the past fortnight include:

A LEARNER driver, 16, caught travelling at 138km/h in a 60km/h zone on Awoonga Rd and 126km/h in a 60km/h zone on Valley Rd, both at Highbury, on January 3.

AN UNLICENSED driver, 18, clocked at 170km/h in an 80km/h zone on Glenelg River Rd, Mount Gambier, on New Year’s Day.

AN UNREGISTERED and unlicensed motorcyclist, 27, caught travelling at 200km/h in a 60km/h zone on Robe Tce and Park Tce, North Adelaide, on December 28.

A MAN, 28, clocked at 190km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Riddoch Highway, Glenroy, in the state’s South-East on December 27.

SA Police Traffic Services Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Bob Gray said he was “extremely concerned” about excessive speeding, which had been on an upward trajectory.

He said police across the country had observed a disturbing increase of drivers travelling at high speed and taking greater risks since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“That sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable and the risk it presents is totally unacceptable,” Superintendent Gray told The Advertiser.

“It’s not just the person doing that speed, it’s the people in their vehicles, it’s other road users – whether they be riders, drivers, pedestrians, cyclists – and they’re putting everyone at risk.

“Essentially they’re driving a two-tonne-plus bullet at a speed 45km/h above the limit. People need to now be reflecting on the consequences if they get detected doing those speeds.”

Traffic Services Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Bob Gray. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

A new offence of extreme speed is defined as driving at 55km/h or more above the limit in a zone marked 60km/h or less, or 80km/h or more in a zone marked above 60km/h.

Drivers convicted of a first offence would face a maximum three years’ jail and a mandatory minimum two-year licence disqualification.

A subsequent offence would result in an increased licence disqualification period of five years.

Aggravating factors – including driving disqualified and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – would increase both jail sentences and licence disqualifications to five years.

Excessive speed is driving 45km/h or more above the limit. The maximum penalty for an aggravated offence is now two years’ jail. There was previously no term of imprisonment.

Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia said: “Any driver caught speeding – especially those more than 45km/h over the limit – should be ashamed of themselves.

“I’m relieved these particular drivers were caught because speeds that high will cause crashes and serious injures – if those involved are lucky enough to survive.”

Mr Tarzia said the state government made no apologies for implementing tough hoon-driving laws and penalties to “improve road safety for the majority who do the right thing”.

Losing Dad left a gaping hole

“He got 20 months but we got a life sentence.”

Kimberly Gilmour lives every day with the pain of knowing her father, Brenton Curtis, was taken too soon at the hands of a killer driver.

“(Dad) was such a great man. It changes you as a family forever. You are never the same and you always miss them,” Mrs Gilmour says.

Mr Curtis, 62, was cycling in a Salisbury Plains bike lane when he was struck and killed by driver Garang Akech Luk in October 2017.

Luk, then 19, was speeding, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.12, was suspended from driving at the time and neither tried to help Mr Curtis nor called triple-0.

He was given a 20-month non-parole period – a sentence Mrs Gilmour describes as an injustice.

Wendy Curtis, holding a picture of her husband Brenton, with daughter Kimberly Gilmour.

She is pleading with all South Australians to consider the consequences of their actions before they get behind the wheel and break the law. “When you willingly get behind the wheel and when you’re disqualified and you’re drunk and you’re speeding, it’s not an accident,” Mrs Gilmour says.

“There is a high chance you could cause harm, if not worse like with my father, and these people seem to think they are above the law and don’t really care about others.”

Mrs Gilmour says her youngest son never got to meet his grandfather, while her mother, Wendy, mourned the loss of her husband a few months before their 40th wedding anniversary.

“Those not directly affected by the loss of a loved one think that after the first month or two that’s it. Little do they know it can be years before stuff is settled or sorted,” she says.

“(Dangerous drivers) are very selfish and they’re not above the law. You’re taking away a loved one … and those people are then left with a gaping hole for the rest of their life.”