MORE than five hundred traffic offences were detected by police in the Northern Grampians Police Service Area (PSA) during the Summer Stay road safety campaign.
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The 52-day campaign urged all drivers to stay safe and stay alive during the high risk holiday period.
Despite motorists being repeatedly told they could be caught anywhere at anytime, police intercepted 373 speeding drivers, 11 drink drivers and six drug drivers.
Throughout the campaign police in the Northern Grampians PSA detected:
- 11 drink drivers,
- six drug drivers,
- 13 disqualified/suspended drivers,
- 26 unlicensed drivers,
- 54 unregistered vehicles,
- 373 speeding offences,
- six mobile phone offences,
- seven disobey signs/signals and
- seven seat belt offences.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said while the campaign has finished the road safety message stayed the same.
"If everyone stays alert, sober, and within the speed limit then we will take a major step towards our goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on the road," he said.
"The results show we are catching many dangerous drivers before it is too late. However, there are still far too many people putting their life and the lives of others at risk.
"Our continued focus on removing all impaired drivers from Victorian roads was demonstrated by the unprecedented level of breath and drug tests conducted.
"Expanded use of our automatic number plate recognition cameras and BlueNet cars resulted in the increased number of disqualified drivers and unregistered vehicles being intercepted."
Four people lost their lives on Victoria's roads during the national road toll period, which ran from December 23 to January 3 - one less than during the same period last year.
"In total 33 people died during the Summer Stay Campaign, that's 10 less than last year but still 33 too many," AC Hill said
"I urge all Victorians to remember their loved ones each time they get in their car, on their bike or go for a walk or run.
"Please pay attention to your surroundings, look out for other road users and make sure you arrive at your destination safely."
Statewide almost 80,000 traffic offences were detected by police during the Summer Stay road safety campaign.
Police conducted 1.2 million breath tests and more than 12,000 drug tests, an increase of 15 and 67 per cent respectively.
Launched on November 14, 2014 and ending on January 4, 2015 the Summer Stay Campaign comprised four separate traffic operations including:
- Operation RAID - state-wide operation targeting drink and drug driving aimed at removing all impaired drivers from the roads - November 14 to December 7, 2014.
- Operation Break Up - state-wide operation with a particular focus on distraction and seatbelt offences pre-Christmas - December 8-22, 2014.
- Operation Crossroads - nation-wide operation focusing on high risk factors associated with holiday driving during the Christmas/New Year week. Victoria Police had a particular focus on speeding drivers.
- Operation Fresh Start - state-wide operation with a particular focus on fatigue with the return of the industrial sector from the holiday break - 4 January, 2015.