South Australia Police (SAPOL) is urging travellers to take eggs-tra care on the road this Easter as families and friends getaway for the long weekend.
This year’s campaign, ‘Keep it sweet on the road’, offers a different approach to previous years and will coincide with state-wide traffic ‘Operation Safe Holidays – Easter’ and ‘Operation Stop Drink/Drug Driving’. Both will be running from Thursday 28 March to Monday 1 April 2024.
Operation Safe Holidays – Easter will have police targeting high-risk behaviours including the Fatal Five – drink/drug driving, dangerous driving, distraction, speeding and seatbelts.
“As thousands of South Australians hit the road to travel to our regions or interstate for the Easter break, please, remember to keep it sweet on the road,” Superintendent Darren Fielke, Officer in Charge of SAPOL’s Traffic Support Branch, said.
“Over the past five years, 7 lives have been lost and 43 people were seriously injured over the Easter long weekend, mostly in regional South Australia.
“No lives lost on our roads should be acceptable, with 20 lives lost so far this year and 162 serious injuries, we are doing much better than last year at the same time (35 lives lost and 232 serious injuries), but this is not a reason to become complacent while using the roads.
“We urge everyone to do their part to ensure a fatality-free long weekend.”
Using a catchy and child-friendly jingle, the new campaign calls out motorists whose driving behaviour is risky, and acts as a friendly reminder to drive safely.
“Lots of families go away at Easter and of course kids love Easter chocolate. We want to remind people of the fun family holidays and memories that they are making while linking back to keeping everyone safe by sticking to the speed limit, wearing seatbelts and resting every couple of hours on long trips,” Supt Fielke said.
“With Easter this year we want people to enjoy the break with family and friends, but also remind people to make it an Easter holiday period filled with happy memories, not traumatic ones.”
Drivers are reminded to be patient, drive responsibly, plan journeys ahead of time, drive to the conditions, take breaks every two hours and be conscious of fatigue.
“Police will have a highly visible presence across the state over the Easter break to deter dangerous driving behaviours.” Supt Fielke added.
“Hopefully people will see and hear our keep it sweet road safety jingle and it will stick their heads so they remember it and take the advice when they’re in the car with their kids.
“We wish everyone a happy Easter, and a safe return home.”
