By NATALIE GALLENTI
A MELTON Highway Patrol operation nabbed over 250 motorists driving dangerously over a five-week period.
Inspector Simon Stevens, tasking and co-ordination manager for Division 3 in North West Metro Region, said between 4 April and 15 June Melton Highway Patrol conducted Operation Reduction 2 on the Melton Highway and Western Highway in partnership with the TAC.
The operation, designed to modify driver behaviour in one of Melton’s most notorious hotspots, saw a total of 275 drivers detected for 315 offences.
Insp Stevens said out of the 275 drivers, 260 were detected speeding, eight for using a mobile phone, four for not wearing a seatbelt, six with a disqualified licence, four unlicensed, 11 unregistered and 19 other traffic offences. A total of 289 preliminary breath tests were conducted.
He said it was important to note that 36 drivers received penalty notices for low-level speeding.
“While pleasing to see reductions in collisions from the previous year, it was disappointing to see us still detecting drivers disobeying the law and putting themselves and others in danger,” Insp Stevens said.
“We are here to help the community be safe on our roads and will continue to do so, however we really need the community’s support to achieve this long-term.
“It’s about the community working with us, and our partners such as the TAC, modifying their driving behaviour and assisting us all reduce road trauma.”
Insp Stevens said police would continue to focus on enforcing low-level speeding as this plays a major part in reducing road trauma.
“Everyone needs to know that speeding, drink and drug driving and driving while distracted are major killers on our roads.”
