As RAA continues its ‘elephant in the room’ campaign this National Road Safety Week, new data shows the number of South Australian drivers caught running red lights at pedestrian crossings has risen by almost 25 per cent in the last four years. The data also shows which crossings in SA recorded the most offences.
In 2022 there were 4,636 offences for disobeying red light signals at pedestrian crossings, up an alarming 24.3 per cent from 3,729 in 2019, according to SA Police data.
The figures obtained by RAA also revealed that two eastern suburbs school crossings recorded the most offences – one on Portrush Road (near Linden Park Primary) and Kensington Road (Marryatville Primary School).
RAA Senior Manager Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain said the data showed many drivers were not showing due care around our most vulnerable road users.
“Pedestrian crossings are designed to provide a safe location for crossing the road, and it’s alarming to see the number of drivers disobeying the signals is increasing,” Mr Mountain said.
“These mid-block crossings are put near schools on major roads for good reason, and it is essential that drivers obey the red-light signals to avoid potentially catastrophic consequences.”
Mr Mountain also said the fixed camera fines cost South Australian motorists a total of $2,795,978 last year.
“Many of these red-light offences may be due to inattention or distraction, which is one of the Fatal 5 causes of road trauma in South Australia.
“This National Road Safety Week, RAA is raising awareness of the Fatal 5 and asking all road users to consider their behaviour on the road, amid our alarming fatality and serious injury numbers this year.”
Throughout the week, RAA is placing five-metre tall, colourful, inflatable elephants at prominent locations around metropolitan and regional South Australia – each representing one of the Fatal 5.
The ‘Fatal 5’ causes of road trauma in South Australia are:
Year | No. offences | Fines (incl. VOC levy) |
2019 | 3,729 | $ 1,997,903 |
2020 | 3,081 | $ 1,705,266 |
2021 | 4,596 | $ 2,719,267 |
2022 | 4,636 | $ 2,795,978 |
Site address | Red Light Offences | Red Light Fines (incl. VOC) | School(s) within 200m | |||
1 | Portrush Rd, LINDEN PARK | 2914 | $1,647,836 | Linden Park Primary School | ||
2 | Kensington Road, KENSINGTON PARK | 2231 | $1,243,360 | Marryatville Primary School | ||
3 | Goodwood Rd, GOODWOOD | 1599 | $892,993 | Goodwood Primary School | ||
4 | Diagonal Rd, GLENELG EAST | 1303 | $730,027 | Glenelg Primary School | ||
5 | David Terrace (Level Crossing), KILKENNY | 1237 | $693,347 | |||
6 | Marion Road, ASCOT PARK | 1112 | $650,186 | Ascot Park Primary School | ||
7 | South Rd, BLACKFOREST | 946 | $529,876 | Black Forest Primary School | ||
8 | Cormack Rd (Level Crossing SE), DRY CREEK | 916 | $501,336 | |||
9 | Portrush Rd/Phillips St, KENSINGTON | 805 | $455,039 | St Joseph’s Memorial School, Saint Ignatius’ College Junior School, Mary MacKillop College | ||
10 | Torrens Rd, WOODVILLE NORTH | 730 | $405,312 | Woodville High School | ||
11 | Park Terrace Pedestrian Crossing (East), SALISBURY | 703 | $413,780 | |||
12 | Park Terrace (West), SALISBURY | 701 | $397,456 | |||
13 | St Bernards Rd, MAGILL | 691 | $384,736 | Morialta Secondary College | ||
14 | South Rd, MARLESTON | 560 | $311,338 | Richmond Primary School, Warriappendi School | ||
15 | Philip Hwy Pedestrian Crossing | 541 | $304,124 | Playford International College, Kaurna Plains School | ||
16 | Marion Rd, MARION | 530 | $294,983 | Hamilton Secondary College | ||
17 | Portrush Rd/Watson Ave, TOORAK GARDENS | 509 | $282,166 | Loreto College | ||
18 | Portrush Rd, TRINITY GARDENS | 453 | $256,080 | Trinity Gardens School | ||
19 | Prospect Road, PROSPECT | 396 | $222,119 | Blackfriars Priory School | ||
20 | Woodville Rd (Level Crossing), WOODVILLE | 381 | $212,596 | |||
21 | Shepherds Hill Rd, EDEN HILLS | 349 | $194,793 | Bellevue Heights Primary School | ||
22 | Bains Rd, MORPHETT VALE | 306 | $173,458 | Antonio Catholic School | ||
23 | Beach Road, MORPHETT VALE | 299 | $174,802 | Calvary Lutheran Primary School | ||
24 | Diagonal Road, WARRADALE | 275 | $152,737 | Warradale Primary School | ||
25 | Seacombe Rd, SEACOMBE HEIGHTS | 237 | $133,700 | Seaview High School, Darlington Primary School | ||
26 | Commercial Rd, SALISBURY (Level Crossing E) | 194 | $108,178 | |||
27 | South Rd, CLOVELLY PARK | 177 | $99,636 | St Bernadette’s Primary School | ||
28 | Stephen Terrace, WALKERVILLE | 119 | $68,886 | Walkerville Primary School | ||
29 | Regency Rd Pedestrian Crossing | 115 | $63,756 | Challa Gardens Primary School | ||
30 | Ascot Avenue, VALE PARK | 57 | $33,402 | Vale Park Primary School | ||
31 | Hancock Rd, ST AGNES | 46 | $26,386 | St Agnes School | ||