A total of 12 lives were lost in January on South Australian roads, the worst January for fatal road collisions since 2015.

The deaths included pedestrians, motorcyclist, motorists and a bicycle rider, prompting an urgent call from the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) for all road users to be vigilant.

“The recent spike in fatalities demonstrates the ever-present danger on our roads,” said RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain. “Whether you are behind the wheel, on a motorcycle, a push bike or crossing the street, it’s crucially important to be focused on the task at hand.”

In January 2018 five lives were lost on the roads, the same number as in 2017.

This year, of the 12 people killed on the roads, seven were in metropolitan Adelaide.

Mountain pointed out that the next two months – February and March – would be even busier in Adelaide, with increased numbers of visitors, pedestrians and cyclists enjoying the Fringe, Festival and Adelaide Superloop 500 car race.

“That’s why we are urging motorists to watch out for road closures, restrictions and increased pedestrian activity near key venues,” he said. “We also encourage road authorities to review the need for pedestrian crossings on major roads based on crash data.”