By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Drug drivers, drink drivers and speeding drivers felt the force of Greater Dandenong’s road police during the Labour Day long weekend.
None of the state’s six fatalities occurred in the municipality – which was one of Victoria Police’s priority areas as part of Operation Arid.
However a 19-year-old female passenger died in hospital on Saturday after a car crashed into a truck on Boundary Road in Carrum Downs about 7.30am on 9 March.
Six drink drivers, three drug drivers and 83 speeding offences were detected in Greater Dandenong during the 9-12 March operation.
In total there were 180 offences, including disqualified driving, disobeying traffic signals, seatbelt and mobile phone offences.
No vehicles were impounded.
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer described “how disappointing” it was that six people were killed on Victorian roads – including five on country thoroughfares.
“Six families ripped apart and no one seems to care except for those six families.
“Our focus on high risk user groups and country roads will remain strong.”
Statewide, more than 500 drink and drug drivers and more than 3000 speeding drivers were caught.
Asst Comm Fryer was concerned that drug driver numbers were up from last year’s operation.
“These are people who were warned that police would be in force and still they wanted to run the gauntlet.”
Asst Comm Fryer said police blitzes on the roads weren’t for revenue raising.
“It’s around educating good people to change their driving behaviour… It’s about saving lives.
“The operation may have finished however our members will still be focused on keeping you safe on the roads.
“There must be a responsibility though for all road users to do the same.”
