By Jessica Micallef
More than 10 drivers a day, on average, were caught breaking the law on Macedon Ranges roads during the Christmas and New Year period.
Police were out in full force on Victorian roads as part of the statewide Operation Roadside from December 14 to January 6.
Police intercepted 273 drivers on Macedon Ranges roads, including 177 speeding drivers, along with 14 drivers disobeying traffic signals. Police nabbed 32 drivers driving unregistered vehicles, while seven drivers were found driving unlicensed. Five drivers were caught using their mobile phones.
Macedon Ranges Acting Police Inspector Bruce Simpson said that despite some unsafe behaviour, he was grateful Macedon Ranges drivers mostly enjoyed a safe Christmas.
“We are pleased we didn’t have any fatalities on the Macedon roads,” Acting Inspector Simpson said.
Five drivers were caught drug-driving in the region and 920 drug-driving offences were detected statewide.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane told The Age drug-driving was the biggest concern for police when it came to road safety.
“We do know that there are more people on our roads using drugs,” Assistant Commissioner Leane said.
“The number of people affected by drugs has now matched, or is starting to exceed, the number of people who have alcohol in their system.
“Progressively, the number of alcohol affected drivers who lose their lives has been reducing … what we have been seeing for the past five or 10 years is an increase in the number of drivers who have drugs in their system.” …
He said drivers should always remain vigilant on the roads, no matter what time of the year it was.
“We all have a part to play in keeping ourselves and others safe,” he said.
“I encourage everyone who’s using our roads to think carefully about what they can do to keep themselves and others safe.”
A total of 33,892 traffic offences were detected across Victoria during Operation Roadwise.
