More than 776 dangerous drivers have been detected drink and drug driving during a 10-day Christmas road safety blitz.
Operation Roadwise saw Victoria Police target impaired drivers during the high-risk Christmas period on Victorian roads, with 129,914 alcohol and drug tests conducted across the state.
Police were alarmed at the number of motorists caught taking risks and drink driving – with one in every 270 detected over the legal limit.
Notable detections for drink driving during Operation Roadwise included:
A 40-year-old Hughesdale man allegedly detected more than five times over the blood alcohol limit (0.268) on Wednesday, 22 December on Arthur Street, Hughesdale;
A 50-year-old male rideshare driver from Craigieburn allegedly detected more than four times the limit (0.217) on Sunday 19 December on Yan Yean Road, Yarrambat; and
A 45-year-old Edithvale man caught using his mobile phone while drink driving with his 8-year-old and 10-year old children in the back seat. He allegedly returned a BAC reading of 0.148.
A total 9,932 traffic offences were detected during Operation Roadwise, including:
• 462 drink driving offences from 124,589 preliminary breath tests
• 314 drug driving offences from 5,325 roadside drug tests
• 383 disqualified/suspended drivers
• 379 unlicensed drivers
• 974 unregistered vehicles
• 3,700 speeding offences
• 536 mobile phone offences
• 558 disobey signs/signals
• 223 seatbelt offences
• 225 vehicle impoundments
There have been a further six lives lost on Victorian roads since Friday 17 December, bringing the total lives lost to 232 this year, compared with 210 same time last year.
Police are warning motorists not to become complacent – with significant enforcement and highly-visible patrols to continue across the state throughout the New Year period.
Local highway patrols will be out conducting operations targeting motorists in holiday hotspots and coastal areas as Victorians hit the road during January, with support from State Highway Patrol, the Heavy Vehicle Unit and Alcohol and Drug Testing vehicles.
Operation Roadwise ran from 12:01am Friday 17 December to 11:59pm Sunday 26 December 2021.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads during the festive period, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner Road Policing, Glenn Weir:
“We’d like to acknowledge and thank the vast majority of the community for working with us to help keep all Victorians safe on the roads during this period.
“Disappointingly, there is still an unacceptable level of motorists who demonstrate a blatant disregard towards road safety, particularly those who make the choice to drive after consuming alcohol or drugs.
“Police have worked around-the-clock during this operation to conduct thousands of alcohol and drug tests, and we’ll continue to target impaired drivers during the summer months with ongoing enforcement. Expect to be tested when you’re out on the roads”.
