Police will be able to immediately suspend or disqualify the licences of people suspected of dangerous driving offences under tough new road safety laws set to come into effect next week.
The laws, which include a new offence of driving at extreme speed, passed State Parliament last year and will come into effect from Monday 29 August.
“Too often we’ve seen heartbreaking stories of people who have lost loved ones due to the careless actions of others,” says SA Attorney-General, Kyam Maher.
“Through these tough new measures, people suspected of serious driving offences can be punished through an immediate licence suspension or disqualification.”
Under the laws, a person charged with causing death by dangerous driving will have their licence suspended, and Police can suspend or disqualify the licence of someone suspected of committing either the offence of extreme speed or death by dangerous driving.
The new offence of driving at extreme speed reflected the serious nature of the offence, with tougher penalties to apply to those found driving at either 55 kilometres an hour over the limit in a zone marked at 60 or less, or 80 kilometres an hour above the limit in a zone marked above 60.
People found guilty of driving at extreme speed will face up to 3 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum two-year licence disqualification period for the first offence, and a five year licence disqualification period for a subsequent offence.
“This tough stance now enshrined in legislation clearly illustrates our Government’s zero tolerance approach to hooning,” says Minister for Police, Joe Szakacs.
“It will send a very firm message to hoons that you will get caught, and when you do, will be hit with the full force of the law.”
The Government has also announced changes to road safety laws in response to advocacy from the family of Sophia Naismith, who died in 2019 after being hit by an out of control high-powered sports car.
Find out more about driving laws, offences, fines and penalties on the SA Gov website.
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