South Australia’s worst start to the year for road deaths in more than a decade

A person has died on SA’s roads every three days on average so far in 2021. This is a community-wide problem, police say.

Frustrated police are pleading with South Australians to take more responsibility and call out bad behaviour amid the deadliest start to the year on our roads in more than a decade.

The state’s top traffic cop warns the spiralling number of lives lost in 2021 will continue without a concerted public effort to address selfishness and poor decision making.

There have been 28 fatalities – the highest since 2010, when 36 people were killed – and almost 150 serious injuries on SA roads in just 11 weeks.

In the latest tragedy, two young men died when their Ford ute hit a tree on Angaston Road at Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley just before 2.30am on Saturday.

The 23-year-old driver and his 20-year-old passenger died at the scene. Another passenger in the rear of the ute was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries.

Distraction remains the biggest killer having contributed to 13 deaths so far this year, while motorcyclists are again over represented among the victims.

Traffic Services Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Bob Gray said he was concerned at the increasing number of lives lost – the majority of whom as a result of “bad decisions”.

“It’s incredibly selfish to use our roads to put innocent people at risk let alone yourself and your loved ones,” Superintendent Gray told The Advertiser.

“This isn’t a police solution. It’s a whole of South Australia community solution. If people don’t take responsibility then unfortunately we’re going to continue to see bad outcomes.

“It’s important families and loved ones have these conversations because the stark reality is it can happen to anybody.

“It’s a bit like having a terminal illness when you get diagnosed. Nobody thinks about it or worries about it until it affects you and your loved ones.”

Father of five Zac Aunger, 30, died when his car left Tarlee Road, Kapunda, and hit a tree on January 4. Picture: Emma Brasier

SA Police figures provided to The Advertiser reveal contributing factors in the 26 of the 28 road deaths so far this year. The breakdown shows:

THIRTEEN deaths attributed to distraction.

NINE deaths attributed to dangerous behaviour.

NINE deaths attributed to excessive speeding.

There are some deaths where Major Crash officers have identified more than one contributing factor during an investigation and, as such, both are included.

Superintendent Gray said distraction had been a major concern for five years but those who chose to drive dangerously or speed excessively “quite often will get catastrophic outcomes”.

He said police were awaiting pathology results for crashes linked to alcohol and drugs.

“We’ve got to come together and if people are behaving badly on the road and you’re in a position to influence them then call them out,” Superintendent Gray said.

“We need to work in collaboration to make sure people stay safe when they use our roads.

“I would also ask people to make conscious decisions to do the right thing and respect the fact you may have other people with you in your vehicle or on your motorbike.

“You have no right to affect those people and you have no right to affect people who are going about their business using our roads doing the right thing, which the large majority do.”

Seven motorcyclists have been killed on SA roads in 2021, including a 36-year-old man who died in a crash on Randall Road, Mannum, on January 8. Picture: Mike Burton

Superintendent Gray said people should also spare a thought for the devastation experienced by family, friends and communities, and emergency services crews who attended crash scenes.

“It has an effect on certain members of the public who get caught up in these type of things and it’s not just attending the scene and what you find at the scene,” he said.

“The police then follow that up and go back to loved ones and advise them that somebody they cared deeply about is never going to come home and that’s very demanding.”

Superintendent Gray said it was unfortunate that two people – including much-loved mother and wife Judy Ditter – had died from falling tree branches on the state’s roads in four months.

Ms Ditter, 59, of Crafers, died when a large branch fell on her car as she travelled along Mount Barker Road at Stirling on November 11.

An Adelaide Hills man, 63, died in similar circumstances on Torrens Valley Road at Mount Pleasant on Tuesday.

“Those people have not made a bad choice. The only mistake they made was being on the road at the wrong time and that’s absolutely tragic for them and their loved ones,” Superintendent Gray said.

RAA safety and infrastructure senior manager Charles Mountain said the deaths of seven motorcyclists was a significant contribution to the “horror year” on SA roads.

He said there had been a noticeable increase in lives lost on the metropolitan road network.

“Tragically, March is consistently one of the worst months on our roads for lives lost, so it’s a timely reminder that we should never take the driving task for granted,” Mr Mountain said.

“With the upcoming Easter break, when many will be heading away on driving holidays, it is so important motorists understand they must be focused behind the wheel for the sake of all road users.”

Mr Mountain warned fatigue could lead to inattention and urged drivers to ensure they were well rested before, and planned stop breaks throughout, their journey.