Police Minister Stephen Mullighan, SA Police plea for safety as images emerge of distracted drivers

Authorities have issued a stern warning to motorists after pictures of drivers being busted for being distracted behind the wheel were released.

A driver was caught texting and eating a burrito behind the wheel as South Australia Police call for safer road behaviours. Picture: SAPOL

Motorists have been filmed driving while texting, drinking and even eating a messy Mexican dish while driving

One image released on Sunday shows a road user holding a burrito in one hand and their phone in the other while behind the wheel.

Police Minister Stephen Mullighan has joined with SAPOL to implore motorists not to be distracted while driving.

In a joint press conference on Sunday, Mr Mullighan and Acting Superintendent Jaimi Burns urged motorists to “take extra care on our roads”.

“With distraction and speeding playing a major role in so many crashes last year, the critical message to road users across South Australia is clear, these selfish behaviours need to stop”, Ms Burns said.

SAPOL is calling for safer road behaviours. Picture: SAPOL

Some of the distracted behaviours included using phones while driving. Picture: SA Police

“We are pleading with people driving on South Australian roads to stay focused and drive to the conditions and speed limit so everyone can arrive safely.”

Mr Mullighan said the government was working closely with SA police on road safety as festival season gets under way.

“We will continue to take action to make our roads safer,” he said on Sunday.

“There will be thousands of people out on our roads, whether they’re driving, whether they’re walking.”

“All South Australians have a responsibility when it comes to road safety, particularly those behind the wheel, but also those people who find themselves in a road related area.”

It comes as nearly 35,000 drivers have been caught using mobile phones since the installation of more than $13 million worth of mobile phone detection cameras in September last year.

“I think everyone was deeply shocked by the prevalence of mobile phone use while people are driving,” Mr Mullighan said.

Police Minister Stephen Mullighan in 2024. Picture: Dean Martin

“You are effectively driving blindfolded if you are paying attention to your phone, rather than paying attention to the road.”

Mr Mullighan said the addition of more cameras was not currently in the works, but did not rule out more in the future if the need arose.

He also said that mobile phone detections have been decreasing.

It comes as analysis of road fatalities and serious injuries for 2024 has been finalised.

Last year, 91 lives were lost on SA roads, with over 847 people left with serious injuries resulting from road crashes, with the majority occurring on regional roads.

Police say distraction, driving dangerously and speeding were the leading causes of these crashes, and drivers aged 16-24 were “overrepresented in the statistics”, with 11 losing their lives and 155 sustaining serious injuries.

“South Australia police will continue to take strong action to deter and detect unsafe behaviours on our roads, through road safety education and enforcement statewide,” Ms Burns said.

The current road toll for 2025 sits at 17, up from 13 at the same time last year.