Police have issued more than 100 infringement notices for driving offences across the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road as part of an operation targeting day trippers from Melbourne.
The three-week operation focused on reducing serious road trauma as traffic increased on regional roads following the easing of Melbourne’s travel restrictions last month.
Geelong and Colac Highway Patrol officers, with support from uniform police, issued a total of 124 infringement notices between October 22 and November 14, including 77 for speeding – nabbing an average of around three speeding drivers per day.
On one occasion, police pulled over an 18-year-old man from Grovedale who had allegedly been travelling at 172km/h in a 100km/h zone along Surf Coast Highway, Torquay with three passengers on board.
They also stopped a 34-year-old man from Point Cook who was allegedly travelling at 122km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Great Ocean Road in Bellbrae with two infants and a woman on board.
Police also caught two drivers who were allegedly under the influence of drugs, including a 42-year-old man from Curlewis and a 34-year-old man from Sunshine.
Other offences detected included driving while using a mobile phone, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving while not wearing a seatbelt and driving while suspended.
Police tested 168 drivers for alcohol with preliminary roadside breath tests but none returned a positive result.
Surf Coast Police acting senior sergeant Stephan Bull said ensuring drivers were staying safe on the roads would be a police priority over the summer.
“The vast majority of motorists were acting responsibly and safely behind the wheel, however it only takes one speeding or inebriated driver to lead to devastating consequences,” he said.
“Police will maintain a sharp focus on rural and tourist destination roads over the coming months, ensuring that all motorists get to their destination in a safe manner without putting themselves or other road users at risk.
“To all those who dare to take risks behind the wheel – these selfish and dangerous decisions could very likely cost you your life or the life of another person.
“Consider yourself very lucky if you get off with a fine.”
The road safety blitz came as the state’s road toll has reached 209 lives lost in 2021, an increase from 191 at the same time last year.
