Cyclists fined, cautioned during Tour Down Under police blitz
Cyclists received the bulk of the fines and cautions in a two-week blitz by South Australian police targeting the behaviour of all road users during the Tour Down Under.
Photo supplied.
Operation Safe Cycling ran between January 9-22 focussing on the behaviour of cyclists and drivers with one cyclist killed and another eight seriously injured during the fortnight.
The operation didn’t just follow the TDU route but was implemented across the State.
Police fined 167 cyclists but only four drivers during the statewide campaign at a time cycling enthusiasts flooded the roads.
A further 270 cyclists and 17 drivers were cautioned.
SA Police was unable to provide a breakdown for the fines and cautions issued, a spokeswoman told AAP.
Superintendent Bob Gray said the casualty numbers underline the dangers of sharing the roads.
“This highlights the vulnerability of cyclists – they invariably come off worst if involved in a collision with any other vehicle,” Supt Gray said.
“Both cyclists and drivers need to be aware of each other, actively look for each other and share the road safely.”
Police fined 347 cyclists and 18 drivers when running the same campaign in 2021. Most were for not wearing a helmet.
-with AAP
