While most South Australian’s enjoyed the Easter long weekend and many were able to get away, unfortunately a number of people were caught doing the wrong thing on the roads.
South Australia Police monitored and patrolled roads across the state during Operation Safe Holidays Easter, which ran from Thursday 6 April until Monday 10 April 2023.
Sadly, there were two deaths on our roads during the Easter break. A 63-year-old One Tree Hill man died in a single vehicle crash on Main North Road, Mawson Lakes in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Then, a 16-year-old boy lost his life when his car hit a tree on Lake Plains Road, Lake Plains, near Langhorne Creek in the early hours of Sunday morning.
There were also seven serious injuries as a result of collisions during the same period.
Police conducted 23,731 alcotests with 88 positive results during the operation, along with 102 drivers testing positive to drugs.
Five drivers recorded readings more than four times over the legal limit and six had readings more than five times the legal limit during the operation.
- .202 at Hampstead Gardens
- .215 at Kadina
- .228 at Sturt
- .232 at Mount Barker
- .233 at Kingscote
- .250 at Salisbury Downs
- .254 at Glengowrie
- .275 at Munno Para West
- .283 at Kensington Gardens
- .291 at Ceduna
- .291 at Newton
Police caught 846 speeding drivers, 48 drivers or passengers not wearing their seatbelts, detected 57 distraction offences and impounded 72 cars for a range of offences.
Inspector Damien Eichner, Acting Officer in Charge, Traffic Services Branch said, “While most South Australian road users stuck to the speed limit and the road rules this Easter, it is still concerning that some motorists choose to drive with drugs and alcohol in their system.
“Disappointingly 120 people have chosen to drive after consuming alcohol and/or drugs. Eleven of these people recorded alcohol readings higher than four times the legal limit. This is a selfish act, which puts road users’ lives at risks and is simply avoidable.”
