Liam McNally
Police detected 34 traffic offences across Whittlesea and Hume during a four-day road policing operation over the Labour Day long weekend.
Operation Arid had police ramp up enforcement state wide following a 45 per cent increase in the road death toll, when compared to the same time last year.
Speeding, impaired driving, mobile phone use and unauthorised driving were the key issues detected by police during the four-day operation.
Of the 2573 speeding offences detected across the state, 16 were in Whittlesea and Hume.
In Hume there were two drink driving offences, two speeding offences, three seatbelt offences, one mobile phone offence, and two unregistered vehicles.
In Whittlesea there was one drink driving offence, 14 speeding offences, one mobile phone offence, four disobeying signs/signals offences, one disqualified driver, one unlicensed driver and two unregistered vehicles.
Throughout the state, police said 323 motorists were caught using their phone while driving, which is a 23 per cent increase from the last operation in January.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police saw the majority of people doing the right thing on our roads.
“Disappointingly though, we continue to detect motorists for the type of behaviour that’s been contributing to road trauma this year – that being speed, distraction, and impaired driving,” he said.
“It is simply not good enough to just ignore the warnings – the reality is, there has been more lives lost on our roads than there have been days this year.
“Police are constantly engaging with the community to educate first and enforce when the message doesn’t get through and we make no apologies for this. We are doing everything we can to reduce trauma on our roads.”
Assistant Commissioner Weir said they make no apologies for enforcing the rules and they will be out in force this month.
“March is a busy time with footy returning, lots of major events and good weather – so if you’re out and about this month, you can expect us to be out too”.
