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Serious rear end crashes spike by 33% in spring compared to the rest of the year – prompting RAA calls for motorists to take care.
There were 16,109 car crashes of all types in South Australia during spring in the five years from 2019-2023 – more than any other season – according to SA Government crash data analysed by RAA.
Over this period 84 rear end crashes resulted in a fatality or serious injury – 33% more than any other season.
Rear end crashes most commonly occurred in the afternoon peak period between 3-6pm, but spring also saw a 23% jump in rear end collisions in the morning peak between 7-9am when compared to the rest of the year.
Spring is also typically a time of increased kangaroo collisions, as animal activity near roads can increase during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn.
The worrying statistics have prompted RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain to remind South Australians not to get complacent behind the wheel.
“Spring is a bit of an unpredictable season when it comes to weather and varying conditions that can affect drivers’ visibility,” Mr Mountain said.
“Many would assume winter would be the worst time for rear end collisions, with less daylight and more rainfall, but potentially drivers are getting complacent as the weather warms up.
“Unsurprisingly, the worst times of day for these crashes is during the afternoon and morning peak periods, where traffic is heavy and drivers may be impatient.
“Traffic can often stop without warning so if you’re too close to the vehicle in front the risk of crashing into them is greatly increased.
“No destination is worth risking your life or others. Always try to allow additional time to get to work or school drop-off to avoid putting yourself under pressure and taking unnecessary risks to try a save a couple of minutes.
“When you’re on the road, always make sure you maintain a safe stopping distance of around three seconds from the car in front of you.
“Make sure your windscreen is clean inside and out, invest in quality sunglasses, and strategically place your sun visor to best avoid glare in the dawn or dusk hours.
“As the weather warms up there will likely be more motorcyclists and cyclists on the roads, particularly on popular routes such as Norton Summit and Greenhill Rd between Burnside and Balhannah.
“Take extra care when passing cyclists – leave at least a metre when the speed limit is 60km/h or lower, and 1.5 metres on higher speed roads.
“And remember while it is legal to cross a single or double white line to pass a cyclist or cyclists, you can only do so when there is no traffic coming in opposite direction.”