South Australia Police aim to spend the next four days educating drivers about the dangers of excessive speeding through the launch of Operation Safe Speed.

The high-visibility operation started earlier today at 1am and aims to reduce fatality, serious injury and casualty crashes on our roads by deterring road users from speeding.

Speed continues to be an ongoing issue for South Australia Police, with crash data from 2018 suggesting that in 20 per cent of fatal crashes, excessive speed was a contributing factor.  

The risk of a casualty crash approximately doubles with every 5km/h speed increase on a 60km/h speed limited road, or with every 10km/h speed increase on 110km/h roads. 

Research also suggests a reduction of 5km/h in average travel speed would reduce rural casualty crashes by about 30 per cent and metropolitan crashes by about 25 per cent.

Despite the data, motorists are still making excuses for excessive speed.

“The aim of this operation is for police to influence and educate drivers about speeding,” said South Australia Police Superintendent Robert Gray, the officer in charge of the Traffic Support Branch.

“Reductions in speed will save lives and minimise injuries. We know that vehicles travelling above the posted speed limit are more likely to be involved in a crash and are also more likely to be involved in a serious crash. Every traffic contact during this operation is an opportunity for our officers to reiterate this.

“Over the course of this Operation drivers can expect to see a large police presence on our roads, particularly in locations with the highest traffic volumes. This Operation was last conducted earlier this year in March and resulted in 911 detections state-wide.

“The road toll is currently at 75 (as of Sunday 25  August) and we, as a police force, cannot stress enough that we need the help and cooperation of the community to reduce the number of lives lost on our roads.”

Operation Safe Speed will conclude at midnight on Thursday 29 August.