By Danielle Kutchel
Drivers in Casey were in a hurry to get their celebrations started over the long weekend, with police recording a high number of speeding offences as part of Operation Regal.
The four-day, state-wide operation saw police targeting high-risk driving behaviour on Victorian roads, including speed, alcohol and drug impaired driving, fatigue, driver distraction and a failure to wear seatbelts.
Across the Casey Police Service Area, 42 speeding offences were detected over the long weekend.
Speeding was by far the most common offence detected over the four-day policing operation.
Coming in second place was unregistered vehicles, with 20 picked up over the weekend.
Police caught five drink drivers and eight drug drivers, as well as nine disqualified drivers and three unlicensed drivers.
Seven drivers in the Casey Police Service Area were caught disobeying seven signs or signals, while there were two seatbelt offences picked up.
Five vehicles were impounded.
Cyclists apparently did the right thing over the weekend with no cycling offences detected.
It seems motorists may also be getting the message about using mobile phones while driving, with no offences of this kind detected over the Queen’s Birthday weekend.
Statewide, Victoria Police detected 4780 traffic offences and 431 criminal offences as part of Operation Regal.
One in 21 drivers tested returned a positive roadside drug test while a further 170 drivers were detected with alcohol in their system.
Police also detected 1998 speeding motorists, issued 166 fines for using a mobile phone while driving, and intercepted 318 disqualified, suspended or unlicensed drivers on Victorian roads.
There was one life lost over the weekend following a fatal collision in Moorooduc on Friday 11 June, bringing the total lives lost on our roads to 98 this year.
