By Kara Irving
BRIMBANK has been listed as the highest risk area for road trauma in the state, with thousands of drivers nabbed for speeding, drink driving and mobile phone offences between 2009-2010.
Last week, Victoria Police listed the top 20 suburbs showing where Victoria’s drink drivers, speeding motorists and mobile phone offenders live.
More than 600 Deer Park, Cairnlea and Caroline Springs residents were caught using a mobile phone while driving.
Sydenham and St Albans also made the top 20 for the number of mobile phone offences, clocking up 591 and 582 per suburb respectively.
Drink driving offences were also rife across the municipality with 591 offences committed in St Albans, 92 in Sunshine, 79 in Deer Park, Cairnlea and Caroline Springs and 76 in Sydenham.
Drivers in Brimbank received less speeding offences than neighbouring municipalities Wyndham and Hume, but still had 1117 drivers from Sydenham charged.
Deer Park, Cairnlea and Caroline Springs had 1092 and 1074 St Albans drivers were also nabbed.
Brimbank Highway Patrol Sergeant Rob Stein said police were doing their best to ensure dangerous drivers were being caught.
“Because we have a large area to cover, we target specific trouble spots that are renowned for speeding or drink drivers. We could be anywhere at anytime,” Sgt Stein said.
“We frequently commence operations to send a stronger message to the community”.
The offence for using a mobile phone while driving incurs a $250 fine, and loss of three demerit points. Speeding drivers nabbed more than 25 kilometres over the speed limit immediately lose their licence.
