Police: Results a wake-up call

Victoria Police found one in 10 drivers caught speeding during the Labour Day long weekend were travelling at more than 25kmh over the posted limit.

Operation Arid targeted excessive speed, fatigue and other impaired driving across the long weekend.

In the Northern Grampians Police Service Area, police detected two drink drivers, four drug drivers, two disqualified drivers, one unlicensed driver, 21 speeding offences, one mobile phone offence and nine unregistered vehicles.

In the Horsham Police Service Area, police detected two drink drivers, one drug driver, one disqualified driver, two unlicensed drivers, 40 speeding offences, one who disobeyed signs or signals, 10 unregistered vehicles, one impoundment and two cyclist offences.

Operation Arid recorded a total 6488 traffic offences across Victoria.

Police data showed 2843 speeding drivers were detected during the statewide operation, with 369 travelling at more than 25kmh above the limit.

A further 2161 drivers were travelling between 10kmh and 25kmh above the posted speed.

Statewide, 203 drink drivers were detected from 76,060 preliminary breath tests, a strike rate of one in 375.

There were 166 drug drivers detected from 3115 tests, a strike rate of one in 19. The number of motorists failing to wear a seat belt or not wearing one properly was 117.

Almost 400 drivers should not have been on the road because they were either unlicensed, disqualified or suspended from getting behind the wheel.

To date this year, 57 people have died on Victoria’s roads compared with 69 at the same time last year.

‘Unacceptable’

Road Policing acting assistant commissioner John Fitzpatrick said the number of drivers speeding during the long weekend was unacceptable.

“To think so many people were driving at extreme speeds is even more worrying,” he said.

“At high speed there is little room for error and the consequences of a mistake are magnified.

“To put it bluntly, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“We’re also seeing too many people getting behind the wheel when they should not – be it for drinking, taking drugs or not having a licence.

“To find so many people driving around without a seatbelt is mindboggling. A seatbelt can’t save you if you’re not wearing it.

“These results should serve as a wake-up call to anyone doing the wrong thing on our roads.

“Police aren’t just out in holiday periods. We can be out anywhere, anytime, stopping anyone.”