Twenty-two people were caught speeding in the Greater Shepparton area during a four-day police road safety blitz on the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Police also picked up five drug drivers and two drink drivers in the area, as part of state-wide Operation Regal, which targeted high-risk driving behaviour.
Among the 51 offences recorded locally, two drivers were fined for disobeying signs or signals, and five were not wearing seatbelts during the operation that started at 12.01am on Friday, June 9, and finished at 23.59pm on Monday, June 12.
The operation also saw one disqualified driver and four unlicensed drivers stopped, five motorists in unregistered vehicles, and one person using a mobile phone while driving in the Shepparton area.
There were also three impoundments of vehicles in the Shepparton Police Service Area, and one cyclist was fined for disobeying the law.
Police were out in force throughout the state during the operation in an effort to drive down road trauma following a shocking start to the year that has seen the highest number of lives lost on Victoria roads in 16 years.
In our region, 24 people have died on the roads since New Year’s Eve — more than one a week.
In Victoria, 143 people have died — up 35 per cent on the same time last year, where there had been 106 deaths.
Throughout the state, the number of infringements issued by police over the four-day operation increased 15 per cent on last year, with 40 per cent of all offences detected for speeding.
A total of 6546 offences were recorded in Victoria throughout the operation.
These included 2652 motorists speeding, 649 driving unregistered vehicles, and 407 drivers without a licence.
State-wide, 354 motorists were caught disobeying traffic signs or signals, and 224 were using their mobile phone while driving.
A total of 196 drink drivers were picked up from 99,099 preliminary breath tests and 170 were caught drug driving from 2945 roadside drug tests conducted.
State-wide, 159 seatbelt offences were detected, and 145 vehicles were impounded.
Two people also died in crashes at Toombon and Reservoir, while an 18-year-old Warrnambool man was also lucky to escape injury after his vehicle drove off an embankment at Mount Buller on Friday evening.
Road policing Acting Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said this year’s Operation Regal saw an increase in the number of offences detected, compared to the same long weekend last year.
“This is really disappointing, as it indicates that many motorists are continuing to take risks on our roads,” Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said.
“Police will continue to enforce against those who engage in risky driving behaviour, and we make no apologies for this.
“It only takes one poor decision and a split second to cause a tragedy.”