Prahran Highway Patrol picked up 41 drink and drug drivers during a two-night blitz in Malvern East over the weekend.
Operation Gandolf, which targeted drink and drug driving, was set up in the
outbound lanes of the Monash Freeway near High Street on Friday and Saturday nights.
Highway patrol officers together with police from the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section tested 3871 motorists during the two nights between midnight and 7am.
VicRoads also provided support with the management of traffic.
A total of 74 offences were detected during the operation including:
– 39 drink drivers
– One drug driver
– One driver that was both alcohol and drug effected
– Nine vehicle impounds
– 18 speeding offences, and
– Six disqualified, suspended or unlicensed drivers
Prahran Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Damian Schmidt said it was disappointing at any time to see drivers getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs.
“We are pleased to see a decrease in the total number of drivers who tested positive when compared to last year’s operation, when 63 people were found to be over the limit,” A/Sgt Schmidt said.
“However, what was surprising and of concern to police was the increase in number of young drivers with zero alcohol conditions, drink driving.
“Eleven of the 39 drink drivers this year were over their zero alcohol conditions, compared to no detections for this offence last year.
“This operation should serve as a warning to drivers that they can be tested anywhere at any time as police ramp their drug and alcohol testing of drivers into the holiday season.”
