New shadow patrol cars to target dangerous drivers

The vehicles feature reflective, colour-matched subdued police markings that are less visible during the day but reflect at night when illuminated. Unlike unmarked police vehicles, the vehicles retain police markings but are designed to be less easily identified from a distance.  

They will be deployed in metropolitan and regional areas and will target drivers committing offences including alcohol and drug driving, speeding, inattentive driving, and dangerous driving – behaviours that put road users at risk.  

As at 6 July 2026, contributing factors in lives lost on South Australian roads this year included:

• drink driving in 10 per cent of lives lost
• drug driving in 21 per cent of lives lost
• dangerous road users or behaviours in 36 per cent of lives lost.

Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens said the vehicles would strengthen SAPOL’s road policing capability and support ongoing efforts to reduce road trauma.

“These vehicles are about road safety and giving police another capability to detect dangerous driving before it results in tragedy,” Commissioner Stevens said.

“With 61 lives already lost on South Australian roads this year, we cannot afford complacency. Every fatality represents a person who did not make it home and families whose lives have been changed forever.”

“They will also have a deterrence effect. If people know police may be on the road in vehicles that are not immediately obvious from a distance, they may think twice before speeding, driving affected by alcohol or drugs, using their phone, or taking risks behind the wheel.”

The six vehicles include:

• 2 x Subaru Outbacks
• 2 x Toyota Klugers
• 2 x Toyota Landcruiser 300 Series vehicles

They will be used as part of routine road policing activities and targeted enforcement operations across the state, including Operation Safe Speed and Operation High Impact.

Each vehicle will be equipped with standard Highway Patrol and Road Policing equipment, including speed detection equipment, alcohol and drug testing equipment, and safety equipment for officers to respond to and investigate collisions.

The introduction of these vehicles complements SAPOL’s high-visibility road policing and reinforces a simple message to dangerous drivers: police may not always be obvious from a distance, but they are out there.

“If you do the right thing on the road, these new shadow patrol cars should not concern you – instead you should be encouraged knowing we are taking every opportunity to hold dangerous road users to account,’’ Commissioner Stevens said.

You can view footage of the shadow cars here: