By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
NAVY blue is taking over the streets of Casey this Christmas and since September Cranbourne Highway Patrol has caught 37 drink and drug drivers.
Three people were killed in separate road incidents in the Casey, Cardinia and Dandenong policing division from December last year to January this year.
But this holiday season police will be saturating the area with back-up from the TAC.
“That’s three people who didn’t get to see this year. That’s three people too many,” Acting Senior Sergeant Pat McGavigan from the Cranbourne police said.
“No lives were lost over the Christmas period in Casey, specifically in 2014, but over the past five years Casey has become number one in the state for high trauma.
“And that’s why the State Highway Patrol team will be situated in Casey for some time over that period.
“We have funding through the TAC for additional patrols, that’s how much of a risk Casey is.”
Operation Roadwise will continue until 3 January.
The targeted approach on Casey drivers will see 17 State Highway Patrol units situated at high risk areas around Casey on different days throughout the holiday months.
“There will also be six booze buses in Casey over a 20-day period.
“Normally we have a very limited number of booze buses but we are getting so many because Casey is such a high risk area,” Sen Sgt McGavigan said.
As part of the operations, numerous registration recognition cars, which automatically tell police vital information, will be in place.
Sen Sgt McGavigan said these cars are not to be confused with the Blue Net that Cranbourne has running daily.
“We’d be happy not to catch anyone if people do the right thing,” he said.
“But we will be looking to catch people before someone gets hurt.”
Drink and drug driving, occupant safety, such as wearing a seat belt, and driver distractions will be the four main areas to be tackled.
“We’re the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island and the Latrobe Valley. Our roads become major transport carriers over the December holidays,” Sen Sgt McGavigan said.
Cranbourne police have conducted more than 10,000 preliminary breath tests and caught eight drug drivers and 29 drink drivers in the City of Casey since September as part of Operation Octopus.
Sen Sgt McGavigan said residents can expect to see more of these breath tests throughout Christmas and the new year.
