More than 100 traffic offences were detected in Hume during a 13-day Easter and Anzac Day holiday road safety blitz.
Unlicensed and disqualified drivers ranked high on the offence list, with up to 20 such drivers caught.
Acting Senior Sergeant James Bowen, of the Fawkner highway patrol, said unlicensed and disqualified drivers continued to raise concerns in Hume and police would actively target them.
“These people figure highly in the road trauma statistics,” Acting Senior Sergeant Bowen said.
He said police would also have a zero tolerance for speeding and distracted drivers.
“There has been a lot of publicity in relation to being distracted while driving,” he said.
“However, drivers are continuing to ignore all the warnings police put out and continue to use their mobile phones while driving.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Bowen said the statewide holiday blitz had targeted a wide range of road safety offences and another major operation would be enforced during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June.
“Operations like this, which is highly visible, remind motorists of their responsibility as drivers,” Acting Senior Sergeant Bowen said. “When they drive they’re responsible for the safety of themselves, their passengers and everyone else on the road. They are in charge of a potential … killing machine.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Bowen said he would be happy for his team to not detect a single offence during the blitz, but it was motorists who had the power to ensure the roads were safer. He urged drivers to be extra careful in winter.
Yasemin Talat
