Operation Danger detects over 400 road safety offences

Operation Danger was conducted from Monday, 4 November to Sunday, 10 November in an aim to reduce trauma on South Australian roads.

Sadly, three road users lost their lives during the operation period, including two passengers and one cyclist. In addition, nine road users were seriously injured.

Traffic Services Branch Officer in Charge, Superintendent Darren Fielke said this operation sends a clear message that dangerous driving on South Australian roads will not be tolerated.

“Operation Danger targets high-risk road users who choose to put their and others’ lives at risk,” Superintendent Fielke said.

Police detected 40 drivers speeding, 59 following too close, 19 drivers disobeying traffic lights, 31 drivers changing lanes dangerously, 114 drivers failing to give way and 68 drivers misusing a motor vehicle.

SA Police expiation data indicates that dangerous driving offences are often paired with drink and drug driving offences. As a result, police also conducted drug and alcohol tests and caught 58 drink drivers and 73 drug drivers.

An incident of note involved a 33-year-old Morphettville man who was caught driving at a dangerous speed. He was tracked by PolAir at Morphettville and arrested and charged with speeding, driving disqualified and driving an unregistered vehicle. Police also impounded his vehicle.

Another incident of note involved a 28-year-old Mount Barker man who was tracked by PolAir driving dangerously from Enfield and up the South-Eastern Freeway. He was tracked to his residential address where he was arrested for numerous traffic offences.

“SA Police attitudinal research shows that dangerous drivers are a cohort that make deliberate decisions to take risks,” Superintendent Fielke said.

“I ask road users to take heed of these results and realise that dangerous driving has serious consequences.

“Not only have we seen hundreds of offences detected resulting in serious penalties but more tragically we have seen lives lost and serious injuries that could have been avoided”

“The road rules are there to protect all road users. It’s critical that dangerous drivers wake up to the risk they pose to themselves and others and make safer choices.”