Ageing SA population drives gopher boom

South Australia's grey army is driving an unlikely transport boom, prompting the state's motoring association to extend roadside assistance to mobility scooters.

Gopher sales have increased by 110 per cent over the past three years, the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia says.

RAA spokesman Mark Borlace says almost 40 per cent of RAA members in SA are aged 60 or older, and their mobility needs are likely to be changing as they age.

The association says it will extend its roadside assistance service to help people on gophers get back on the move, having completed a successful 12-month pilot program.

"If the member is located on the roadside when their mobility scooter breaks down, our patrols will do all they can to get it going again," Mr Borlace said.

"If it's not possible, they'll make arrangements to get the member and their scooter home or to a place of repair."

Most callouts during the pilot program were for flat tyres (68 per cent) and flat or faulty batteries (15 per cent).

The 2011 census shows SA was tied with Tasmania as the states with the largest proportions of older people, with 16 per cent of the population aged 65 years and older.