It was a horror Christmas-New Year on Melton roads with police detecting 473 driving offences in their Operation Roadwise over a three-week period.
Despite police saturating the roads, the number of offenders almost doubled the total for the same time last year.
Police say they nabbed 12 drink-drivers, nine drug-drivers, and 26 unlicensed or disqualified drivers.
As well, there were 279 speeding offences in the three weeks to January 8, 25 seatbelt offences and 18 mobile phone offences, while 96 unregistered vehicles were identified.
Police say they impounded eight vehicles.
Melton highway patrol’s Acting Sergeant Mark Cadman said the number of drivers breaking the law was extremely disappointing.
He said Victoria Police and the state government were spending a lot of money and effort to deter people from getting behind the wheel while drug or alcohol-affected, but some were just not getting the message.
“If you’re caught over the limit, you can lose your licence and that can mean the loss of a job and possible financial constraints,” Acting Sergeant Cadman said. “Other than those personal consequences, no one wants to be on the road with those drivers. There’s a reason these laws have been put in place.”
Meanwhile, over the same three weeks, Moorabool police nabbed 10 drink-drivers, three drug-drivers and 12 disqualified or unlicensed drivers.
There were 177 speeding offences, five seatbelt offences, one mobile phone offence and 27 unregistered vehicles. Police impounded five vehicles.
Moorabool highway patrol officer Sergeant John Cody said there were a high number of offences detected despite drivers knowing extra police would be on duty.
“Speeding is the big issue,” Sergeant Cody said. “Particularly when we tell people we’re out there and we’re going to be catching them.
“Christmas is meant to be a joyous season, but 15 people died [on Victoria’s roads]. Their families are certainly not having a good time over Christmas. The trauma affects a lot of people and it’s really disappointing some drivers can’t see that.”
