LIMESTONE Coast police will crack down on motorists flouting the law along the Riddoch Highway amid a horror spate of fatalities and serious road crashes this year.
There have been six fatalities and more than five people suffering serious injuries in crashes along the highway since January.
With “very high” drug driving detection rates as well as a spate of drink driving offences over the weekend, police have issued a renewed warning to all motorists.
The warning follows another serious crash on the Riddoch Highway near Tarpeena on Sunday morning, with a 25-year-old Mount Gambier man escaping with his life.
It is understood the driver – who was conveyed to Mount Gambier Hospital – lost control of the Nissan utilty at 2.35am and smashed into a tree.
And in a bizarre event, also at the weekend, an alleged drink driver in Mount Gambier crashed his vehicle in his own driveway after refusing a breath test and fleeing police.
It is understood police were given overtime to specifically detect drink drivers on Saturday night and this offender was driving the first vehicle they targeted.
Police acting sergeant Paul Griffiths – of the highway patrol section – called on motorists to be vigilant at all times behind the wheel and make responsible choices.
“This drink driver has blatantly ignored all the messages we have put out,” Acting Sgt Griffiths told The Border Watch yesterday.
“While police can be visible on the roads to get people’s attention, we cannot police the stupid, ignorant or people who just do not care.
“We particularly want to issue a warning ahead of the long weekend and the AFL grand final on Saturday.
“This weekend we do not want any crashes – police will be out in force in all areas.”
He said there had been six fatalities along the Riddoch Highway, as well as other fatalities on roads just off the highway.
Patrols will particularly focus on a 50km stretch north and south of Naracoorte, which has been the hotspot of fatalities.
While drink driving rates had fallen, he said a cluster of drink drivers were detected over the weekend.
“Disappointingly, there were a lot of drink drivers detected in Mount Gambier over the weekend and in other areas of the Limestone Coast,” Acting Sgt Griffiths said.
“There was one motorist on Saturday – who had a high reading – arrested for resisting arrest, driving under the influence, refusing a breath test and having a crash in his own driveway when he took off from police.”
A drug testing unit was also operating in Mount Gambier yesterday and planned to target the highway stretch between Adelaide and the Blue Lake city.
“We are focusing on road safety along the Riddoch Highway – the entire length from Port MacDonnell through to Keith,” Acting Sgt Griffiths said.
“We will monitor speed and driver behaviour – we will have a high visibility presence all hours of the day and night.”
Operation Riddoch – which will run until the end of January – will be boosted with Adelaide traffic enforcement officers.
“We also have the state tactical group coming to Bordertown, which will focus on both the Dukes and Riddoch highways over the long weekend,” the veteran police officer said.
He predicted a spike in the number of vehicles travelling along the Dukes Highway for the AFL grand final.
Acting Sgt Griffiths said many crashes were the result of inattention.
“This could be as simple as looking at a mobile phone or looking down at the radio,” he said.
“With a car travelling 35m per second, if you take your eye of the road for half a second, that is 17m where you have not seen where you are going.”
He urged parents and other drivers with accompanying minors to resist turning and back and looking at children in the backseats of their vehicles.
“While we can police speed and other behaviour, we cannot police that momentary lack in concentration,” the police officer said.
He also urged people to always look twice at intersections and junctions.
“It is not a race, if you have to pull over, then pull over,” he said.
“You are better to be 10 minutes late than not arriving at all.”
