Reset results are in

The operation took place over four days. 196348_03

By Mitchell Clarke

Almost 50 drug drivers have been detected in Victoria’s south-eastern suburbs over a four-day period, with 30 of the 45 offenders being nabbed in Cardinia, Casey or Greater Dandenong.

Victoria Police has released statistics from Operation Reset, an initiative which aimed to reset driver behaviour as we head into the second half of the year.

Officers in the three municipalities spent a total of 770 hours on the operation, where they carried out 3649 breath tests and 181 drug tests, intercepting a total of 514 drivers for a number of traffic offences.

Over the four days, speeding topped the list of detected offences with 405 drivers caught over the limit. 320 drivers were found to exceed the speed limit by 10-25kmph, while six drivers were nabbed going 45kmph or more over the speed limit.

Southern Metro Region Acting Commander Tony Silva said it was alarming to see the number of dangerous choices people continue to make when they get behind the wheel.

“It’s a harsh reality of our roads that every offence, be it speeding, drink or drug driving, or failure to wear seatbelts, can take a life in a split second,” A/Cmdr Silva said.

“Poor driver behaviour on our roads continues to kill and injure family, friends and loved ones.”

The operation targeted known road trauma locations, with motorists warned to expect a visible presence on highways, backstreets and off-road locations.

“Police see this as an opportunity to reflect on the last six months lives lost and serious injuries count, an opportunity for you to show some patience on the road, an opportunity to adjust your road behaviour as a driver,” A/Cmdr Silva said.

“Something needs to change to address the ever increasing amount of people losing their lives on our roads in the south east.”

Already this year in Victoria’s south-eastern suburbs, 24 people have died in road accidents, a 100 percent increase compared to the same time last year.

In Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong alone, 42 people were caught driving unlicensed while 123 motorists were seized driving unregistered vehicles and 23 people were snapped using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

Operation Reset ran from 12.01am on Thursday 1 August until 11.59pm on Sunday 4 August.

“The operation may have finished but our focus to reset this behaviour on our roads remains,” A/Cmdr Silva added.

“Not arriving at your destination isn’t worth the five minutes in time you gain from speeding or not driving to the conditions.”