Three fatal crashes in 24 hours have left police pleading with motorists to drive safely, as South Australia's growing road toll remains on track to set a grim record.
On Wednesday morning a car crashed into a tree at Chain of Ponds in Adelaide's north, leaving one man dead and three others fighting for their lives in hospital.
That crash followed the overnight death of a 46-year-old man whose motorcycle hit a car at Noarlunga Downs in the city's south.
Both fatalities came less than 24 hours after a 72-year-old cyclist was hit and killed in Port Pirie in the state's mid-north..
"We need to make this stop," SA Police Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters on Wednesday.
"We need people to actually stop taking risks on the road. We need people to wake up."
The state's death toll has jumped to 93 from 57 at the same time in 2022, with the current year on track to be the deadliest in more than a decade.
Additionally, 656 people have been seriously injured compared to 564 last year.
"These are the numbers that you don't see," Supt Fielke said.
"These are the numbers of people who are going to hospital with life changing injuries, who might never ever be the same again."
A visibly exasperated Supt Fielke was at a loss for how to change driver behaviour.
The main factors in serious accidents - speeding, dangerous driving and driver distraction - are all preventable, but despite increased enforcement action and education, no progress is being made.
"You can tell by my demeanour today that I sometimes get lost for words about it," he said.
"If I can be honest, it doesn't feel like the message is getting through. But it has to get through. It has to."
Vulnerable road users, including motorbike riders, cyclists and pedestrians, are grossly over-represented in the figures, as are regional drivers.
Tuesday night's crash was the 18th motorbike rider killed on SA roads in 2023 compared to nine for the previous 12 months.
Seven cyclists have been killed on SA roads in 2023, compared to two the entire previous year.
"Today is a stark reminder of this year’s reality - that cyclists and motorbike riders are still being killed on our roads at an absolutely tragic and alarming rate," Royal Automobile Association spokesperson Charles Mountain said.
"The numbers are shocking, but they aren’t just numbers - each fatality is someone’s father, mother, son or daughter, and a gaping hole is left in a South Australian family."
Premier Peter Malinauskas said drivers had a duty to protect others when they take to the roads.
"There is a degree of responsibility that comes with putting yourself behind the wheel of the car, not just to yourself and your passengers but other road users as well," he said.
