By LIA SPENCER
MORE than 300 traffic offences and several drink drivers were detected on Casey roads during the Easter holidays.
Casey Highway Patrol conducted Operations Crossroads from Thursday 28 March until Monday 1 April, as part of a nation-wide high visibility road policing operation, targeting excessive speed, fatigue, driver inattention and drink and drug driving in a bid to reduce road trauma.
Senior Sergeant John Felton from the Casey Highway Patrol said police detected more than 335 offences by motorists in Casey, including 17 drivers who exceeded the prescribed alcohol limit.
He said police conducted more than 5600 preliminary breath tests at a number of random breath testing sites and the results were disappointing.
“At the first two sites on the first night of Operation Crossroads, eight drink drivers were processed. This is very disappointing. Either people think they can get away with drink driving or they simply don’t care,” he said.
“Either way, they place themselves and others at risk of serious injury as they drive whilst impaired.”
Sen Sgt Felton said there were six collisions reported in Casey over Easter, which was far fewer than the 14 collisions reported last year.
“Whilst it is still six too many, it is pleasing to see a significant reduction from last year,” he said.
Across Victoria, five people were killed on the roads, one person was in a critical condition and 12,083 offences were detected during the five-day operation.
There were also 85 vehicles, including nine motorcycles, impounded and a further 5127 drivers and motorcyclists detected speeding.
Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Robert Hill said that despite the highly publicised focus around on and off-road motorcycle safety he was disappointed to see some riders’ disregard for their own safety and road rules.
Sen Sgt Felton said that police would continue to target bad drivers and conduct preliminary breath tests throughout the year.
“Given these results, we will be conducting more random testing sites across Casey – anytime, anywhere,” he said.
