Ash Bolt
Geelong Police were kept busy over the past two weeks, with more than 270 offences detected on the city’s roads during Operation Compass.
Operation Compass saw police patrolling busy roads over the Melbourne Cup week, which coincided with travel restrictions lifting with Melbourne.
With people flocking to the region, the 278 offences detected on Geelong roads was one of the highest in the state.
The offences included three drink-drivers and five drug-drivers, 104 speeding offences, 20 people caught using their phone behind the wheel and 22 people driving while disqualified or without a license.
Five vehicles were impounded.
Speeding was also a problem on the Surf Coast, with 81 offences detected, along with two drink-drivers.
Road policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said it was disappointing to see so many drivers taking unnecessary risks on the road.
“While it’s great we have regained the ability to travel across the state, it is extremely disappointing police have seen such disregard towards road safety,” he said.
“We have caught far too many people undertaking high-risk driving behaviour during this period – the number of people detected speeding at mid-range to high levels is alarming.
“Speed remains the number one contributing factor to fatalities and serious injury collision on our roads. Lives can be saved if people make better choices behind the wheel.
“The speed limits are there to keep people safe, and we will continue to hold motorists who pose a risk to other road users to account.
“Everyone deserves to arrive at their destination alive.”
Statewide more than 9000 offences were detected on the roads and nine lives were lost.
There has now been more than 200 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2021.
