Zoe Moffatt
More than 50 traffic offences were recorded in the Macedon Ranges and Hume as part of Victoria Police’s Labour Day long weekend police operation.
Operation Arid, a four day operation, resulted in police ramping up enforcement following the high number of fatalities on Victorian roads this year.
In the Macedon Ranges, there were 33 speeding offences, five unregistered vehicles, two drink driving offences, two drug driving offences and one unlicensed driver.
In Hume there were two drink driving offences, two speeding offences, three seatbelt offences, one mobile phone offence, and two unregistered vehicles.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said considering the large amount of traffic across the state, the majority of people are doing the right thing.
“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.”
Throughout the state, police said 323 motorists were caught using their phone while driving, which is a 23 per cent from the last operation in January.
Assistant Commissioner Weir said they make no apologies for enforcing the rules and they will be out in force this month.
“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,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can to reduce trauma on our roads.”
“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”.
