Heading into the Australia Day long weekend and maybe you're thinking of going on a road trip. Maybe you're like me and heading down the coast and you'll be jumping in the car either this afternoon or over the weekend and heading back probably Monday morning Monday afternoon, if you're lucky enough to get the long weekend. There's a few things you should look out for. The RAA has crunched the numbers and it's worked out the areas where the most fatal crashes occur in our state. And you won't be surprised to know that a lot of them are in tourist hotspots. So let's talk about them, and let's try and take this as a warning ahead of the long weekend. Matt Virtue Day's is the senior traffic engineer at the RAA and joins you.

Heading into the Australia Day long weekend and maybe you're thinking of going on a road trip. Maybe you're like me and heading down the coast and you'll be jumping in the car either this afternoon or over the weekend and heading back probably Monday morning Monday afternoon, if you're lucky enough to get the long weekend. There's a few things you should look out for. The RAA has crunched the numbers and it's worked out the areas where the most fatal crashes occur in our state. And you won't be surprised to know that a lot of them are in tourist hotspots. So let's talk about them, and let's try and take this as a warning ahead of the long weekend. Matt Virtue Day's is the senior traffic engineer at the RAA and joins you.

Now, Hello, Matt, Good afternoon, Stacey.

Now, Hello, Matt, Good afternoon, Stacey.

So what have you found? What are the most dangerous areas?

So what have you found? What are the most dangerous areas?

Yeah, so, looking at data from last year in twenty twenty four and comparing that to the five year average, we've found a few of our key to some areas and places we expect people to be flocking through this weekend. We're significantly higher than average in the terms of the number of lives lost. So looking at those regions, firstly, the biggest increase we saw last year was in the Barossa and Lower North region, which covers everywhere north of Adelaide, so that we saw a sixty seven percent increase with fifteen lives lost last year just within that region, far higher than average, and other regions such as the Fleurio Peninsula and Kangaro Island and the Limestone Coasts were also well above the average. So we're really warning drivers not just that are traveling to these regions but anywhere across the state to make sure they're taking all the right precautions while they're out on the roads this weekend.

Yeah, so, looking at data from last year in twenty twenty four and comparing that to the five year average, we've found a few of our key to some areas and places we expect people to be flocking through this weekend. We're significantly higher than average in the terms of the number of lives lost. So looking at those regions, firstly, the biggest increase we saw last year was in the Barossa and Lower North region, which covers everywhere north of Adelaide, so that we saw a sixty seven percent increase with fifteen lives lost last year just within that region, far higher than average, and other regions such as the Fleurio Peninsula and Kangaro Island and the Limestone Coasts were also well above the average. So we're really warning drivers not just that are traveling to these regions but anywhere across the state to make sure they're taking all the right precautions while they're out on the roads this weekend.

Absolutely, that's the last thing we want to see on South Australian roads, especially on a long weekend. In the stats that you have, is it all bad news? Are there any areas that have had an improvement over that period over the last five years?

Absolutely, that's the last thing we want to see on South Australian roads, especially on a long weekend. In the stats that you have, is it all bad news? Are there any areas that have had an improvement over that period over the last five years?

Yeah, we certainly saw some areas that fared better than average, and that makes sense with the figures for the entire state. We're a little bit a low average last year compared to the previous five years, but through the Murray and Malley which extends from Murray Bridge through the river Land and across to the border. We saw half the average number of lives lost, which was a welcome change. However, there were still five people that lost their lives on roads in that region, so that's still far too many and more than what we're aiming for as a state. Obviously, our road safety strategy is looking for a fifty percent reduction in these figures by twenty thirty one and by twenty fifty looking to eliminate or road trauma with fatalities and serious injuries.

Yeah, we certainly saw some areas that fared better than average, and that makes sense with the figures for the entire state. We're a little bit a low average last year compared to the previous five years, but through the Murray and Malley which extends from Murray Bridge through the river Land and across to the border. We saw half the average number of lives lost, which was a welcome change. However, there were still five people that lost their lives on roads in that region, so that's still far too many and more than what we're aiming for as a state. Obviously, our road safety strategy is looking for a fifty percent reduction in these figures by twenty thirty one and by twenty fifty looking to eliminate or road trauma with fatalities and serious injuries.

How do you think we're going with those aims? Are we on track or still some.

How do you think we're going with those aims? Are we on track or still some.

Work to do? Yeah, we're certainly not on track at the moment, especially towards our twenty thirty one targets. So we did look at those We do track those figures, and we've seen that we're well above the target for not only fatal crashes, but especially the number of serious injuries that are occurring on the roads as well. So it's not always whilst we often talk about people that lose their lives, the impact of a serious injury can be life changing and can often very long lasting. That impact individuals as well as their families for many years. So it's the very significant impacts that this has to the community that we're really trying to avoid by doing the best possible things we can when we get behind the wheel.

Work to do? Yeah, we're certainly not on track at the moment, especially towards our twenty thirty one targets. So we did look at those We do track those figures, and we've seen that we're well above the target for not only fatal crashes, but especially the number of serious injuries that are occurring on the roads as well. So it's not always whilst we often talk about people that lose their lives, the impact of a serious injury can be life changing and can often very long lasting. That impact individuals as well as their families for many years. So it's the very significant impacts that this has to the community that we're really trying to avoid by doing the best possible things we can when we get behind the wheel.

Did you look at the types of crashes. What's the most common type of crash on regional roads.

Did you look at the types of crashes. What's the most common type of crash on regional roads.

Yeah, So, while we don't have data for twenty twenty four, we do know the figures for the five years prior to that, and there are a few significant trends. So first and foremost, the single vehicle running off the road is very high. So we see one third of crashes or one third of people that lose their lives a result of running into a fixed object on the of the road, often something you know, a tree or even a stovey pole or down embankments and that type of thing. This is followed by vehicle rollovers, which once again usually single vehicle, can often be fatigue or a distraction related and then similar factors that can relate to head on collisions, which when you've got two vehicles coming at each other at high speed, the forces that are involved in those collisions are far greater than some of the more single vehicle crashes or where you might have a side swipe or something like that that occurs instead. So whilst the number of those crashes is less, the severity is far far higher.

Yeah, So, while we don't have data for twenty twenty four, we do know the figures for the five years prior to that, and there are a few significant trends. So first and foremost, the single vehicle running off the road is very high. So we see one third of crashes or one third of people that lose their lives a result of running into a fixed object on the of the road, often something you know, a tree or even a stovey pole or down embankments and that type of thing. This is followed by vehicle rollovers, which once again usually single vehicle, can often be fatigue or a distraction related and then similar factors that can relate to head on collisions, which when you've got two vehicles coming at each other at high speed, the forces that are involved in those collisions are far greater than some of the more single vehicle crashes or where you might have a side swipe or something like that that occurs instead. So whilst the number of those crashes is less, the severity is far far higher.

So do you have any tips for people? Obviously it sounds you know there's the obvious ones is keep left unless overtaking, and leave that three second gap, But particularly on regional roads in regards to the stats, any tips that you've got.

So do you have any tips for people? Obviously it sounds you know there's the obvious ones is keep left unless overtaking, and leave that three second gap, But particularly on regional roads in regards to the stats, any tips that you've got.

Yeah, So when we're driving on our regional roads, there are increased risks compared to the metro area, so be aware of the higher speeds and the longer distances that you might be traveling. So as I sort of touched on the force of that higher speed when a crash occurs, a far greater the impact of driving longer distances. And we've got a warm weekend ahead, so that can contribute to the fatigue. So make sure we're taking regular rest stops at least every couple of hours and even sooner if you're starting to feel tired, or share the driver with other passengers as well. Make sure you've got plenty of water in the vehicle, keep yourself hydrated. Once again, I'll reiterate very warm weekend, so those whether conditioners can certainly influence the fatigue, So a few of those things, following the speed limits really important, and the basics of popping your seatbelt on and not forgetting that. It's far too many crashes and lives lost where a person isn't wearing a seatbelt, and that's almost the most basic thing we can do to keep ourselves safe.

Yeah, So when we're driving on our regional roads, there are increased risks compared to the metro area, so be aware of the higher speeds and the longer distances that you might be traveling. So as I sort of touched on the force of that higher speed when a crash occurs, a far greater the impact of driving longer distances. And we've got a warm weekend ahead, so that can contribute to the fatigue. So make sure we're taking regular rest stops at least every couple of hours and even sooner if you're starting to feel tired, or share the driver with other passengers as well. Make sure you've got plenty of water in the vehicle, keep yourself hydrated. Once again, I'll reiterate very warm weekend, so those whether conditioners can certainly influence the fatigue, So a few of those things, following the speed limits really important, and the basics of popping your seatbelt on and not forgetting that. It's far too many crashes and lives lost where a person isn't wearing a seatbelt, and that's almost the most basic thing we can do to keep ourselves safe.

Yeah, and sometimes I feel like we're in such a hurry to get in the car and get on the road because you just want to get back quick, especially when it's a long weekend. You want to maximize your time while you're on break and you know Paradise that's away from home. You know. Once you get in the car and put the seat belt on and start driving, then you start thinking, oh, yeah, is there a playlist? Should we get some music, or should we do this? Or did you Oh, let's pull over and get that the drink out of the back that I need to get. And sometimes I just think, if you take that extra five minutes before your head off to get all of that organized, get the playlist sorted, so then you don't have to touch the phone. If you're the passenger, then you can you can crack your tinny if you if you pay your passenger only, you know, just getting it sorted before you leave sometimes can save you a bit of a hassle once you get on the road. Yeah.

Yeah, and sometimes I feel like we're in such a hurry to get in the car and get on the road because you just want to get back quick, especially when it's a long weekend. You want to maximize your time while you're on break and you know Paradise that's away from home. You know. Once you get in the car and put the seat belt on and start driving, then you start thinking, oh, yeah, is there a playlist? Should we get some music, or should we do this? Or did you Oh, let's pull over and get that the drink out of the back that I need to get. And sometimes I just think, if you take that extra five minutes before your head off to get all of that organized, get the playlist sorted, so then you don't have to touch the phone. If you're the passenger, then you can you can crack your tinny if you if you pay your passenger only, you know, just getting it sorted before you leave sometimes can save you a bit of a hassle once you get on the road. Yeah.

Absolutely, it's really important to be organized for a road trip. And another thing is to make sure you know the route that you're traveling along, or you know you've set up your GPS before you start moving. You can't touch it while you're driving either, so making sure you know either yourself or you've got a passenger that knows where they're going that can direct you where to turn off. But we don't want to be trying to adjust our GPS coordinates or anything like that while we're driving. So just that pre planning, like you say, it's no take a few minutes, but can make the drive a whole lot safer.

Absolutely, it's really important to be organized for a road trip. And another thing is to make sure you know the route that you're traveling along, or you know you've set up your GPS before you start moving. You can't touch it while you're driving either, so making sure you know either yourself or you've got a passenger that knows where they're going that can direct you where to turn off. But we don't want to be trying to adjust our GPS coordinates or anything like that while we're driving. So just that pre planning, like you say, it's no take a few minutes, but can make the drive a whole lot safer.

Yeah. Absolutely, Matt, thank you so much for your time today. Really appreciate it, and I hope you have a safe and happy long weekend.

Yeah. Absolutely, Matt, thank you so much for your time today. Really appreciate it, and I hope you have a safe and happy long weekend.

Yes, likewise, and the same to you. Thank you.

Yes, likewise, and the same to you. Thank you.

Thanks. That's Matt Virtudays from the RAA senior traffic engineer. Twenty one minutes to two here on five double A. Let me know your thoughts eight double two to three double O, double oh five double A Afternoon Switch, Stacey Lee

Thanks. That's Matt Virtudays from the RAA senior traffic engineer. Twenty one minutes to two here on five double A. Let me know your thoughts eight double two to three double O, double oh five double A Afternoon Switch, Stacey Lee