SOUTH Australian Police have detected nearly 81 drivers a day using their mobile phones while driving during the latest Operation Distraction.
Operation Distraction ran from August 26 to September 3, focused on drivers texting and making calls while driving.
The previous state-wide Operation Distraction was conducted for nine days in July this year, resulting in 599 drivers detected.
Police made 728 detections during this latest state-wide operation – a massive 81 detections a day, up from 67 in the July operation.
Superintendent Anthony Fioravanti, officer in charge of SAPOL’s Traffic Support Branch, said the number of drivers still “dicing with death” on our roads was unbelievable and concerning.
“Research shows that using a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of crashing by at least four times,” he said.
“Drivers are aware of the laws and they are also aware of the risk of being distracted by texting or dialing when their eyes should be on the road.
“Crashes can happen in a split second – if your eyes are down texting, you won’t see changes before it’s too late to take action that may save your life, or someone else’s.”
He said police will continue with targeted road safety operations, but conceded it was up to every individual driver to drive responsibly.
“Every driver really needs to make a choice now about how they want to drive,” he said.
“Causing a crash or taking a life because you’re texting or checking social media is not the choice you want to make.”
