A recent booze bus operation in Springvale nabbed numerous Casey motorists and left local police appalled.POLICE were appalled after a recent booze bus operation resulted in 60 motorists being charged with drink driving.
Operation Crossroads, conducted at the Springvale Junction intersection on Saturday, 1 April, nabbed 79 people with 31 traffic-related offences detected.
Among those caught during the six-hour blitz were residents from Berwick, Cranbourne, Hallam, Hampton Park and other Casey suburbs.
The operation has left police in disbelief and seeking answers to what they believe to be a chronic community disregard for the safety of families on the roads.
Senior Sergeant Ken Dunlop of the Regional Traffic Unit questioned why people continued to ignore the law and drive while under the influence.
“Why do so many people feel that they have the ability to drive outside of the law when we have the evidence that proves drink driving kills?” he said.
Police said they regularly targeted the Springvale Junction intersection as it was a main thoroughfare to many parts of Melbourne as well as the outer-lying suburbs.
“Simply, we catch drink drivers here time after time after time,” Sen Sgt Dunlop said.
“What concerns me most is when you consider the distances people are travelling or expecting to travel while under the influence of alcohol.
“St Albans, Eltham, Toorak, Mentone, Langwarrin, Cranbourne, Berwick, Noble Park – we catch them from all parts of Melbourne.”
Divisional Superintendent Chris Ferguson said while it was satisfying that police had their intelligence right when it came to identifying effective booze bus sites, it was disheartening to see the high number of people acting irresponsibly.
“We have caught a large number of people driving just over the limit, which suggests that society feels drink driving is an acceptable thing to do,” Supt Ferguson said.
“We are talking about a deadly cocktail, one that we have seen kill our families and friends on the road countless times before.
“We need to get it through to people that even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood stream will impair a driver’s ability to focus, to remain alert, and flexible to changing road conditions.”
Police have vowed to continue to run booze bus operations throughout the south eastern suburbs and have warned the frequency of operations would only increase with the current upward trend in drink driving.
“I believe the public demands that we keep the roads safe for all, and protect innocent victims from drink drivers,” Sen Sgt Dunlop said.
“We ask again for the community’s assistance because we firmly believe that taking personal responsibility, applying peer group pressure, and responsible parenting can all have an impact on our drink driving road toll.
“We are at the crossroads – let’s stop drink drivers dictating our families’ safety on the roads.”
