One in every 335 drivers tested by Victoria Police were caught drink driving during a four-day King’s Birthday blitz on the state’s roads.
Despite challenging weather conditions across the weekend, officers taking part in Operation Regal conducted around-the-clock roadside alcohol and drug testing from Friday to Monday.
Victoria Police say there were 205 drink driving offences detected from 68,673 preliminary breath tests – a strike rate of one in every 335 drivers. A further 168 drug driving offences were detected from 2,740 roadside drug tests – that’s one in every 16 drivers.
More than 40% of all offences detected were for speeding, with the majority of those caught between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.
Over 430 drivers who shouldn’t have been on the road at all because they were either unlicensed, disqualified or suspended from driving were caught during the operation.
“It was very disappointing that we detected so many motorists disregarding the road rules over the weekend, especially during some treacherous weather conditions,” said Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner, David Byrt.
“It is even more difficult to avoid a collision in wet weather or when visibility is poor if you’re speeding, distracted, or driving while impaired, and yet we caught so many people blatantly taking those risks.
“The number of drivers who were caught driving while alcohol or drug affected this weekend is completely unacceptable.
“These drivers are not only a serious risk to themselves, but to all other road users.
“Police will continue to enforce against those who engage in risky driving behaviour, and we make no apologies for this.
“It only takes one poor decision and a split second to cause a tragedy.”
Police also issued 499 infringements to motorists for disobeying traffic signs or signals, 174 for mobile offences, and 90 for seatbelt noncompliance.
The total 6,005 traffic offences detected during Operation Regal included:
- 2638 speeding offences
- 499 disobey signs/signals
- 435 disqualified/suspended/unlicenced drivers
- 205 drink driving offences from 68,673 preliminary breath tests
- 174 mobile phone offences
- 168 drug driving offences from 2,740 roadside drug tests
- 107 vehicle impounds
- 90 seatbelt offences
- 546 unregistered vehicles
There was one fatal collision over the weekend, with a driver deceased following a collision in Dhurringile on Sunday.
A further two fatalities in the early hours of this morning in a collision at Orbost has resulted in the total lives lost on Victorian roads rising to 139 – up from 125 at the same time last year.
With wet weather and poor visibility increasing as winter sets in across Victoria, Police are urging motorists to take extra care on the roads and be on the lookout for vulnerable road users – particularly pedestrians and motorcyclists.
Police will remain highly visible on the roads across the state, with targeted operations to take place over the coming weeks focusing on vulnerable road user safety.
