Twenty-six people were caught not wearing their seatbelts and 13 were found using their mobile phones while driving during a three-day police road operation in the Shepparton area this week.
These were among more than 90 offences detected overall during Operation Hawkeye, which saw unmarked police cars from Shepparton Highway Patrol work with two motorbike police from Melbourne.
The operation, which ran from Monday to Wednesday, also saw 18 vehicle defect notices handed out, 11 people speeding, one drug driver, nine unregistered vehicles and eight traffic offences.
One unlicensed driver was also caught drink driving when they allegedly recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.121.
Their vehicle was impounded by police.
Among the other things motorists were found to be doing wrong were three e-scooter riders who were not wearing helmets, one person who failed to give way, one cyclist who did not have a bike helmet on, and one driver who failed to display a P-plate.
Eastern Region Division Three Acting Inspector Dave Gillespie said the operation came after a number of fatalities and serious injury collisions in the region this year.
He said it specifically targeted people using mobile phones and those not wearing seatbelts.
Serious injury collisions that involved people not wearing seatbelts from January to May were up 50 per cent in the local region on the same time last year.
Serious injury collisions involving bicycles were up 20 per cent in the same time period.
There was a 200 per cent increase in fatalities involving people not wearing seatbelts between January and May compared to the same time last year.
There was also a 100 per cent increase in fatalities involving young drivers.
“The reason for us undertaking this operation is to try and curb the trend in relation to collisions where there is continued non-compliance in relation to seatbelts and phone use,” Insp Gillespie said.
He said local police had been trying for years to get the message out to motorists about how much trauma was being caused on roads because people were not wearing seatbelts, but said many people were still not heeding the message.
“It’s not my preference to have to approach non-compliance in this manner. I’d much rather people doing the right thing,” he said.
The Eastern Region Division Three policing area has seen 13 deaths added to the road toll this year alone.
More have died in the area that falls just outside the defined policing area.
“The impacts on the family and friends of these people will last for many years to come,” Insp Gillespie said.
After the operation, he implored motorists to heed road rules.
“Put your seatbelt on, don’t use your mobile phone, and pay attention — for your safety and that of the community,” he said.