Nearly 90 people have died on the roads in South Australia, a 19% increase on 2025. The death rate per capita of 5.6 is well over the national average of 4.8. It’s a worrying trend, as it misses all Road Safety Strategy targets.
More people dying on roads
By the end of October 2026, 88 people had died on South Australian roads. This is a 19% increase on 2025 and a huge 28% increase on 2024.
While the number of crashes is much the same, more people are dying:
- Total casualties up to October 2026 rose 1.32%
- Deaths rose 19% and
- Serious injuries rose 10% on the previous year.
Another way to look at is to look at the death rate per 100,000 population. BITRE found the national per capita road death rate has increased about 3% per year:
- The national rate is currently 4.78 deaths per 100,000 population.
- SA’s death rate is 5.6.
Missed road safety targets
Unfortunately, SA has missed its targets in the Road Safety Strategy 2031. It required the state to record less than 43 deaths (currently 88) and 474 serious injuries (currently 744) each year by 2031.
While passenger deaths have fallen over the past decades, the most vulnerable road users are increasingly suffering road trauma:
- 17 motorcycle riders died, up 183% on the 6 recorded last year.
- 7 pedal cyclists died, up from 3 last year.
- 42 drivers died, up 11% on 38 last year.
The dangers of regional roads
BITRE found per capita death rates in inner and outer regional areas are 4-5 times higher than in major cities:
- Regional roads account for nearly two thirds of all road deaths.
- The worst area for serious injuries was the Hills Fleurieu and Yorke Mid North regions, where injuries were up 11%.
Given worsening road safety in SA, does that mean increases in premiums?
CTP premium increases are low
The CTP Insurance Regulator found most South Australian motorists paid premium increases below inflation during 2025-26:
- The cheapest metropolitan vehicle premium costs 14% of SA average weekly earnings – down from 27% in 2016.
It will be interesting to see whether the regulator decides to increase CTP premiums.