Blitz nets a 100 speeders in Melton over long weekend

One hundred speeding drivers were caught in Melton during the Labour Day long weekend police blitz.

Three drivers were nabbed for using phones, five were caught not wearing seatbelts and there were two drink-driving offences.

Disqualified and unlicensed drivers were also among the offenders, while two cars were impounded and eight unregistered cars were detected.

Police across the state dealt with 9311 traffic offences during the four-day Operation ARID.

Senior Constable Holly Gibson, of the Melton highway patrol, said the results were disappointing.

“Despite the publicity and increased police patrols, we’re still seeing people drink-driving and committing other traffic offences.”

Victoria Police were also devastated by eight deaths in six crashes on the state’s roads during the long weekend.

Superintendent David Griffin said he wanted all Victorians to think about the people behind the statistics the next time they got on the road.

“All of these people had families, friends and colleagues,” he said.

“It’s easy to listen to the news and say that’s horrible and then go back to our own lives thinking it will never happen to me or to someone I care about.

“No one has the right to drive. It’s a privilege that comes with a great level of responsibility. If you can’t live up to that responsibility the best thing is that flashing lights appear in your rear view mirror before tragedy strikes.”