Drink drivers raid

By Kelly Yates
POLICE removed 1677 drink drivers and 51 drug drivers from the state’s roads in three weeks as part of Operation RAID.
More than 393,000 breath tests were conducted throughout Victoria during the operation.
RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) was Australia’s largest traffic operation, involving police from six states and territories.
The operation was timed to target motorists in the lead-up to the holiday period, traditionally a period when alcohol consumption increases.
A 20-year-old P-plate driver was picked up for drink driving on 26 November. The Endeavour Hills man was performing burnouts in the middle of the intersection of Princes Highway and Fitzgerald Road in Hallam.
Police said the man recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.187. His licence was immediately suspended and his car impounded for 48 hours.
Casey Traffic Management Unit Sergeant Pat McGavigan said the man should count himself incredibly lucky he hadn’t killed or seriously injured himself or anyone else.
While police were out and about for Operation RAID, they impounded a 20-year-old Hallam man’s vehicle after he was caught travelling more than 50km/h over the speed limit. He was detected travelling at 157km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Princes Freeway in Pakenham at 7.20am on 2 December.
The driver had a suspended probationary licence and is being charged on summons with various offences.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Ken Lay said the strong focus on impaired drivers would continue over coming weeks.
“There has been a trend in recent years for the number of people killed on Victorian roads in December to increase significantly and last year this state had the highest Christmas road toll in Australia,” Mr Lay said.
“Police do not want that to happen again in 2008 and we’re pretty sure the community don’t either. No one wants a Christmas spent in hospital or at a funeral as the result of a collision.”
Mr Lay said motorists should expect a highly visible police presence on the roads. “As we keep saying to motorists – if you want to take a risk then you should expect to be caught,” he said.
During the three weeks of this year’s operation, 16 people were killed on Victorian roads, compared with 29 last year – a 45 per cent decrease.
A range of other offences were also detected during the operation: 7622 drivers were caught speeding, 1929 people were caught not wearing a seatbelt, and 2031 people were caught driving while unlicensed, suspended or disqualified. As well, 15,222 other traffic offences were detected, such as driving while using a mobile phone.