South Australian drivers are being warned that travelling “just a little” over the speed limit can have serious consequences, as police ramp up their presence across the state for the Labour Day long weekend.
SA Police has launched a new road safety campaign specifically targeting moderate speeders, motorists travelling between 10 and 14km/h above the speed limit, in an attempt to challenge the idea that creeping over the limit carries little risk.
The campaign, What will your speeding cost you?, will begin across television, radio, outdoor and digital advertising from Sunday, October 4th.
It centres on a child’s doll positioned at a roadside memorial, which narrates the consequences faced by a driver following a crash, from the financial impact through to loss of life and its effect on those left behind.
The campaign arrives as South Australia’s 2026 road toll sits at 84 lives lost.
At the same time, SA Police has launched Operation Safe Long Weekend across metropolitan and regional South Australia.
The operation began at 12:01am on Friday, October 2nd and will continue until 11:59pm on Monday, October 5th, with officers targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, distraction, seatbelt offences and other dangerous behaviour. Operation Safe Hills will also run alongside the statewide campaign.
Police say motorists should expect officers anywhere at any time throughout the weekend.
Officer in Charge of Traffic Services Branch Superintendent Shane Johnson said, “Many people will be taking advantage of the long weekend and school holidays to travel across the state, and we want everyone to reach their destination and return home safely.
“Before you get behind the wheel this long weekend, plan for your journey to include regular rest breaks, avoid distractions, stick to the speed limit and drive to the conditions, and of course, follow the road rules.”
Long weekends have previously been a major focus for SA Police road operations. During the Adelaide Cup long weekend in March, police detected 525 speeding offences, 124 positive alcohol or drug tests and 28 mobile phone offences. Three people died and seven were seriously injured on South Australian roads across that four-day operation.
The new What will your speeding cost you? campaign will begin on Sunday and roll out across South Australia.
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