By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man has been allegedly detected speeding at 179 km/h in Cardinia during a major police blitz to counter the high number of lives lost on roads in Melbourne’s south-east.
Since 11 August, police have boosted highway patrol resources in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia as part of Operation Prominent.
In its first days, the operation has netted three drink drivers, four drug drivers and 15 unlicensed and disqualified drivers.
Officers have also detected 157 speeding drivers, including a male P-plate driver allegedly travelling at 179 km/h in a 100km/h zone on Ballarto Road, Cardinia at 4.58pm on 14 August.
He is expected to be charged on summons with driving at dangerous speed, failing to display P-plates and driving a prohibited probationary vehicle.
His car was impounded for 30 days, costing him $972.
A female driver was also fined $595 and lost six demerit points when caught speeding at 110km/h in a 70 km/h zone on Beaconsfield-Emerald Road, Dewhurst, about 5pm on 12 August.
During the operation, police booked four drivers illegally using a mobile phone, four not wearing seat belts and 18 unregistered vehicles.
In the region, 18 people have died on the road this year – the highest of any police division in Victoria.
Eleven of those fatalities could be attributed to poor decision making and driver behaviour, police southern metro region division 3 Inspector Tom Nairn said.
“People in this area are making a choice to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they’re making a choice to speed or drive when they’re not authorised to do so.
“Tragically, these choices can result in people losing their lives and leaving families and friends without their loved ones.”
The operation comes in the wake of a tragic two-car crash outside Lighthouse Christian College in Cranbourne East on 10 August in which a mother and her teenage daughter were killed.
On 6 August, a man died after his car struck a tree on Gladstone Road, Dandenong North.
The highly visible police operation continues until Saturday, 19 August.
