A staggering 26 motorists were caught using their mobile phones while driving in Mooroopna in a three-day police blitz.
With so many fatalities and other crashes in the region in recent times, Operation Nokia saw police on foot and in cars crack down on distracted drivers.
The motorists were caught during the operation that saw police on foot in McLennan St peering into cars where they saw drivers using their phones while behind the wheel.
They then radioed to police cars waiting further down the street who pulled the motorists over.
Mooroopna police Senior Constable Mark Betson said while 26 drivers were fined, many more could have been with the officers on foot spotting even more people on their phones.
“There was only so many people we could pull over at the one time,” he said.
Sen Constable Betson said Mooroopna police focused on distracted drivers throughout May, with three days set aside solely for the operation.
He said it was one way police were working to drive down the number of car accidents in the region in recent times, with many coming from driver distraction of some sort.
“We’re trying everything we can to pull back those numbers,” he said.
“It (the operation) wasn’t a matter of coming down hard, but showing how dangerous it (distracted driving) can be.”
Sen Constable Betson was surprised at the number of drivers caught using their phones while driving, especially as they were clearly visible.
“It’s concerning that in three days we have pulled over almost 30 drivers,” he said.
“We’re literally standing on the corner and you’re driving past with your phone in your hand and paying no attention and not seeing us.”
Sen Constable Betson said those fined were all from all the different generations.
“It’s not just young P-Platers or 20-year-olds,” he said.
“We hope the public take notice and stop doing it.
“We can only continue to try.
“We all know somebody who has lost their life on the road.”
As part of the operation, two drivers had their cars impounded.
Both drivers were driving on a suspended driver’s licence, with one also allegedly drug driving.
“Police will continue to crack down on unsafe driving behaviours to avoid further road trauma affecting our community,” Sen Constable Betson said.
Fines
26 using mobile phones while driving
4 fail to wear seat belts
2 drive unregistered vehicle
2 disobey red traffic light
1 exceed speed
2 suspended drivers