Police are warning holiday makers of regional road trauma statistics ahead of the long weekend.

Over the past five years, the March long weekend has seen six lives lost on South Australian roads, with five of those being on regional or rural roads. Operation Safe Long Weekend will focus on preventing the causes of these deaths and on educating motorists via mass media campaigns.

Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott, Officer in Charge of SAPOL's State Operations Service, says the operation will run from Friday 5 March until Monday 8 March and will combine enforcement and education to deter drivers from making potentially catastrophic decisions on the roads.

"The effects of drink and drug driving, speeding, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt and dangerous driving are well documented. These five fatal behaviours have the ability to destroy lives, families and whole communities," AC Parrott says.

"We want South Australians to enjoy time together this long weekend and to explore our great state, but we do not want them to come home in an ambulance or worse, not come home at all."

AC Parrott says drivers should carefully plan their journey, taking a 15 minute break every two hours to avoid the effects of fatigue, and to explore local towns along the way.

"If you don’t allow enough time to get to your destination, you may feel pressure to take unnecessary risks, which could be fatal," AC Parrott warned.

Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia agreed.

"Stopping for rest breaks is a great way to support our regional towns and to ensure drivers are revived and alert when taking long trips," Minister Tarzia says.

"Nearly every year for the past five years, someone has lost their life on our roads during the March long weekend - 83% of those have been on regional roads.

“This weekend marks a painful anniversary for families, friends, colleagues, emergency responders and communities who will forever be reminded of their loss at a time when we should be celebrating and enjoying our great state."

SAPOL will have mass media marketing campaigns running across the weekend on regional and metropolitan radio stations , online platforms, outdoor locations and in road houses to remind drivers of dangerous driving behaviours including not wearing a seatbelt, driving under the influence of drugs and not taking regular rest breaks.

"Whether driving in the city or in regional areas, every single person on our roads has the responsibility to protect their own life and the lives of other road users," AC Parrott says.