As Victorians across the state commemorated the Anzacs, Victoria Police detected 53 traffic offences across Hume and Whittlesea as part of Operation Tribute.
The four day, statewide operation saw police targeting high-risk driving behaviour, from 12.01am Wednesday, April 24, to 11.59pm on Sunday, April 28.
In Hume, police detected three disqualified drivers, three unregistered vehicles, two mobile phone offences, two disobeying signs/signals offences, two impoundments, one drink driver, one seatbelt offence, and one speeding offence, for a total of 15 offences.
In Whittlesea, police detected 38 total offences, including nine speeding offences, eight disqualified drivers, seven disobeying signs/signals offences, five impoundments, three unregistered vehicles, three unlicensed drivers, and three drink drivers.
Across the state, 6857 traffic offences were recorded as part of Operation Tribute, including almost 2800 Victorians caught speeding, with 2152 people clocked travelling between 10 and 25 kilometres over the speed limit.
A total of two people died due to road incidents over the long weekend, taking the current road toll for the year to 93, a decrease on the same time last year which was 101.
Another area of concern for police was 133 positive drug driving tests from 2193 roadside tests, meaning one in 16 tested were driving under the influence of drugs.
Further, 168 drivers were found to be drink driving, from a total of 108,303 preliminary breath tests, a rate of one in every 644 tests returning a result over the legal limit.
Road Policing Assistant Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir was disappointed with the amount of reckless drivers on the road over the period.
“Anzac Day is an important time of reflection and paying our respects, however it’s a shame we don’t see this extended to people’s behaviour on the roads,” he said.
“There is a clear lack of regard for the rules despite our continuous warnings that police will be out enforcing during high-risk periods – almost 7000 offences detected over five days is disappointing.
“Of particular concern is the high number of people we are catching who should not be behind the wheel – these individuals show a blatant disregard for the road rules and to the safety of all other road users.
“The number of people fined for things that are so easily avoidable, like using a mobile phone or failing to wear a seatbelt, also remains baffling to us.”
