A new SAPOL road safety campaign has been launched and urges regional drivers to “stop dying”.
Designed to speak directly to South Australia’s regional community, the new campaign comprises seven emotionally charged television commercials enacting the horrors of the fatal five and how they play out on the state’s regional roads.
SAPOL’s Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said at the centre of the campaign messaging was the alarming statistic that two-thirds of the lives lost in regional crashes were from regional areas.
“Nearly half of the people who have died on regional roads this year have resided 20km or less from where the collision occurred,” he said.
“This statistic conflicts with the beliefs of the regional residents who were surveyed for the development of the campaign.
“We conduct rigorous attitudinal research to inform the messaging and creative execution of every road safety campaign.
“Overwhelmingly the research found that people living in regional areas believe it is metropolitan drivers who die on country roads. The common misconception is that drivers who know the local roads like the back of their hand are less likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
“Our aim with this campaign is to dispel that myth. We need regional road users to understand they are as susceptible to the fatal five as anyone else.”
AC Parrott said drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, excessive speed, distraction, dangerous driving – including driving when fatigued – were the behaviours killing people from regional communities.
“While only 30% of South Australia’s population lives in regional or rural areas, an alarming 70% of deaths happen on regional roads,” he said.
Road Safety Minister Vincent Tarzia said it was shocking how many South Australians had lost their lives in crashes such short distances from their homes in the regions.
“The tragic truth is that country people lose their lives on country roads,” Minister Tarzia said.
“Driving close to home does not guarantee your safety in the regions, but this crucial new road safety campaign aims to raise awareness about the Fatal Five and urgently change driver behaviour.
“Complacency has crept in for some, but we can reverse bad driving habits while saving lives and preventing serious injuries on our roads.
“We ask that every road user stop, listen and digest the confronting content of this new campaign. If just one life is saved, then it has done its job.”
