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South Australia’s road safety authorities have joined forces on Mother’s Day to plea for patience on SA roads, as National Road Safety Week begins.
Road deaths continue to climb across the nation, with Australia recording an increase in lives lost for the fourth consecutive year – the first time this has happened since the 1960s.
It’s prompted RAA to join Police Minister Stephen Mullighan MP, SA Police and Adelaide man Kym Inglis – who tragically lost his wife and two daughters in a crash – to remind South Australians of the risk of road trauma on the first day of National Road Safety Week (11-18 May).
National Road Safety Week will also see RAA launch an inaugural community road safety program – a series of regional ‘Town Hall’ sessions across the state, with the first taking place in Jamestown on Thursday.
The Town Halls will provide in-person opportunities for anyone in regional communities to connect with RAA’s road safety experts and share their views on why so many people are still being killed and injured on regional roads. The community feedback will help to inform RAA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of regional South Australia.
It comes as South Australia Police also launch a targeted week-long road safety law enforcement operation. Operation Danger focuses on dangerous road use offences including following too close, disobeying traffic lights and dangerously changing lanes.
SA crash data analysed by RAA shows there have been 952 lives lost and 7,348 people seriously injured on South Australian roads in the past decade – with the number of casualties increasing in recent years despite cars becoming safer.
This year’s data shows seven pedestrians have lost their lives so far in 2025 – compared to three at the same time in 2024 – highlighting the need to look out for vulnerable road users.
So far this year 77% of lives lost in metropolitan Adelaide have been vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists).
RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain said every death and serious injury on our roads is unacceptable, which is why there is no room for complacency when sharing the road.
“National Road Safety Week is a timely reminder each year of the consequences that all road users and pedestrians face when things go wrong on our roads—a split-second poor decision can unfortunately have a lifelong impact on so many families,” Mr Mountain said.
“Along with the State Government and SA Police we want to use the week to remind drivers of the Fatal 5 causes of road trauma: distraction, speed, driving under the influence, not wearing a seatbelt and dangerous behaviour.
“We’re pleading with all South Australians to consider the responsibility that comes with sharing the road safely.
“We’d urge families to use National Road Safety Week to have conversations with loved ones about road safety and the importance of looking out for one another whenever we’re driving, riding or walking—one conversation might save a life.”
Stephen Mullighan MP said “Reducing the lives lost and serious injuries on South Australia’s roads is a top priority for this Government.
“Every road death or serious injury is a tragedy and has an impact on families, friends, communities and the emergency service personnel who respond to incidents or work to save lives.
“The Government launched its new Road Safety Action Plan earlier this year to improve safety on our roads, which includes important initiatives such as reducing speed limits near schools.”
SA Police Traffic Services Branch Officer in Charge Superintendent Shane Johnson said, “Today, and every day, South Australia Police does our part in making roads across Australia safe – and we urge all road users to do the same.
“Throughout National Road Safety Week, police will conduct Operation Danger, which targets easily avoidable offences and if drivers obey them, they’re less likely to cause a crash.
“Road users should simply make safe road choices and drive to survive. Give each other space between vehicles, check your blind spots and slow down as you approach intersection.”