Ash Bolt
Almost 30 impaired drivers and 150 speeders have been nabbed across the Greater Geelong and Surf Coast region during Victoria Police’s long weekend road safety operation.
Police ran Operation Arid from Friday, March 11 to Monday, March 14 with police putting a focus on enforcing road safety on rural roads and at holiday hotspots.
More than 7000 traffic offences were detected statewide across the weekend, including 173 in Greater Geelong and 52 on the Surf Coast.
Seven drink drivers and 13 drug drivers were nabbed in Geelong, along with six drink drivers and two drug drivers on the Surf Coast.
The Geelong Police Eyewatch page said one of those was a male driver intercepted after leaving the Norlane Hotel on Monday night.
The man blew 0.118 on a preliminary breath test – more than twice the 0.05 limit – and allegedly had a cancelled license.
“Driver stated he caught up with some mates for a drink and was heading back to Barwon Heads. Can you imagine the risk at that high range not only to himself but other road users?” the page shared.
The man’s vehicle was impounded, one of four impounded in Geelong during Operation Arid.
Police also impounded a 23-year-old Norlane man’s vehicle after he was allegedly caught by Geelong Highway Patrol members doing burnouts in front of onlookers at Point Henry Road, Moolap on Saturday night.
Police said he was intercepted after one of the vehicle’s wheels nearly caught fire and investigations revealed his license had been cancelled.
The vehicle was also showing incorrect number plates, police said.
He was charged and summonsed to appear before court on seven driving charges.
Across the state speeding was the major offence detected, making up 40 per cent of offences.
In the region, speeding made up almost two-thirds of all offense detected, with 109 speeders caught in Geelong and 35 on the Surf Coast.
Road policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said behaviour on the roads across the weekend was generally good.
“It was pleasing to see the majority of road users doing the right thing over the long weekend, with reduced levels of road trauma overall,” he said.
“However, it’s completely unacceptable that so many motorists are continuing to take risks on our roads.
“Our increased focus on road safety across March has only begun and the community should be assured they’ll continue to see police out enforcing during this high-risk period.
“We plead with all road users to make good choices – one bad decision is all it takes to cause a tragedy.”
March has historically been the state’s worst month for road trauma.
Five people have been killed on Victoria’s roads this month, bringing the total number of lives lost this year to 55, seven more than last year.
