By Bonny Burrows
Police have released local figures of a Melbourne Cup long weekend roadside operation.
Operation Furlong was a major state-wide operation from Friday 3 November to Tuesday 7 November which mainly focused on speed, fatigue, impaired driving, distraction offences and seat belt compliance.
According to local police, 6359 motorists within the Cardinia police service area were breath tested over the weekend.
“Locally, 15 motorists were caught drink-driving and 119 motorists received traffic-related infringement notices,” a police spokesperson said.
“This may seem like a pleasing result, but it is still 15 drink-drivers too many and 119 motorists too many breaking various road rules.”
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said the aim of the roadside op was “a focus to ensure all drivers on the road are safe”.
“Tragically, that hasn’t been the case,” he said.
Sadly, state-wide, five Victorians aged between 19 and 72 died on country roads over the cup weekend.
As of Friday, a 13-year-old girl was in a coma fighting for her life following a hit and run in Coburg.
Assistant Commissioner Fryer said the events over the weekend served as a tough reminder.
“The message for everyone is: we need everyone to be safe on our roads. We know the country roads are more dangerous than the metro roads,” Assistant Commissioner Fryer said.
“We ask everybody to drive to the conditions, not to the posted limit. That’s the maximum, it’s not the recommended.
“We encourage everyone to look at the environment, whether it’s dusk or dawn, raining or not and drive to the conditions.”
