By ANEEKA SIMONIS
FIVE drink drivers were picked up by police in Cardinia Shire during Grand Final long weekend.
In Cardinia, Casey and the Greater Dandenong area, 13 drivers were caught driving over 0.05.
Police breath tested more than 6600 drivers during the three-day Operation Scoreboard initiative.
In total, 138 driving offences were handed out to drivers in the Cardinia Shire area over the period.
Cardinia Highway Patrol Sergeant Rob Atkinson said a male driver was detected driving more than 30km/h over the speed limit in the Tynong area on Saturday 3 October.
The driver was caught driving 131km/h on the Princes Freeway.
Another driver was detected driving at 87km/h in a 60km/h zone on Beaconsfield-Emerald Road in Guys Hill.
“It’s concerning to see such high range speeding … particularly in those two areas as they are both high trauma roads in Cardinia,” said Sgt Atkinson.
Both drivers had their cars impounded. State-wide, more than 1900 drivers were tested for drugs with 218 returning a positive result – a ratio of one in nine.
More than 121,000 drivers underwent preliminary breath tests with 286 recording a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit.
Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said the number of impaired drivers caught during the operation was very concerning.
“It is extremely disappointing to see more than 500 impaired drivers on our roads.
“Each one of these drivers is lucky we caught them before they killed themselves or someone else.
“It is also worrying that more than 2000 people were caught speeding and 368 were using their mobile phones, while driving this weekend.
Police urged drivers to be cautious when behind the wheel, particularly during the upcoming spring racing season.
