SA ROAD TOLL HIGHEST PER CAPITA IN EARLY 2026

More people died on South Australian roads per capita than any other state in the first three months of 2026, leaving the state well off-track to meet its road safety targets, new analysis from the RAA reveals.

Thirty-two lives were lost and 226 people seriously injured between January and March, marking what authorities describe as a tragic start to the year.

The road toll equates to 1-point-7 deaths per 100,000 people, placing South Australia behind only the Northern Territory nationally.

Motorcyclists and younger road users have been disproportionately affected, with seven rider deaths and eight fatalities among those aged 20 to 29 — both well above long-term averages.

Regional roads continue to account for the majority of fatalities, making up nearly 60 per cent of lives lost so far this year.

The RAA says March was particularly devastating, with 19 deaths — the deadliest month on South Australian roads in more than a decade — and is urging all road users to remain vigilant and avoid complacency.