South Australia Police (SAPOL) are pleading with drivers and motorcyclists in the Adelaide Hills to “stop the carnage” as the results of Operation Safe Hills 2021-2022 are tallied after the first month.
Superintendent of SAPOL, Bob Gray said speeding in the Hills was a perilous issue as drivers and riders recklessly risked their lives, and the lives of others, with irresponsible behaviours.
Superintendent Gray said 19 lives had been lost on Hills’ roads this year, with six of those motorcycle riders.
“Since the beginning of the Operation one month ago, two people have already died –both of them motorcyclists,” he said.
“The statistics are absolutely staggering.
“How many people need to die or sustain life changing injuries before drivers and riders start to change their attitudes and their behaviour?”
Superintendent Gray said that, since 1 October, 2,523 drivers or riders had been detected for a speeding offence in Hills’ regions, with 2,468 of those detected speeding up to 29 km/h over the limit.
“A further 45 drivers or riders were detected speeding 30-44 km/h over the limit and 10 were caught speeding an alarming 45 km/h or more over the speed limit,” he said.
“Of the 2,523 detections, 76 were motorcycles with 67 of them speeding up to 29 km/h over the limit.
“There were nine motorcycles detected speeding between 30 and 44 km/h over the limit.”
The Superintendent said Operation Safe Hills would run continuously until the end of April 2022, targeting the seasons when recreational motorcyclists were drawn to the Hills.
“Police will be on high alert for drivers and riders flouting speed limits and will take a ‘no tolerance’ approach to those refusing to do the right thing,” Superintendent Gray said.
