Close to 30 drink and drug drivers have been busted across the Geelong region as part of a statewide policing operation during the school holidays.
Operation Compass ran for 10 days from Easter up until the Anzac Day long weekend, seeing a huge number of offences detected on local roads.
12 people were nabbed for drink driving, with 15 picked up under the influence of drugs among close to 300 total offences over the course of the operation locally.
159 drivers were detected speeding, leading to 11 impounds.
Across the state, more than 700 drunk and drug drivers were caught, including 371 drivers returning a positive roadside drug test, equating to one in every 21 drivers tested for drugs.
Meanwhile, about 4800 speeding offences were detected with three quarters of speeding drivers travelling 10km/h to 25km/h over the posted limit.
“The fact so many people are making bad choices during what we know is a high-risk period on our roads is extremely concerning,” Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said.
“The number of drivers detected drug and alcohol affected is completely unacceptable.
“These drivers are a risk not only to themselves but to all road users.
“What’s particularly concerning is the 850 people who were detected driving while unlicensed, disqualified or suspended.
“Unauthorised drivers are over-represented in road trauma, and we saw that to be the case during this operation, because around half of drivers involved in fatal collisions shouldn’t have been on the road in the first place.
“We are also seeing people fail to take simple precautions to keep themselves safe like wearing a seatbelt.
“To see that almost 200 people failed to buckle up is truly baffling.
“We will continue to have zero tolerance for those who blatantly disregard safety on our roads.
“That includes enforcing against drugs and alcohol.
“Police are out anywhere, any time.”
