SWAN Hill police said they were “happy” with the behaviour of drivers across the region during the Easter road blitz, despite issuing dozens of speeding infringements.
Swan Hill highway patrol officer-in-charge Sergeant Zac Bull said this was especially true given there were no fatalities in the Swan Hill police service area, which encompasses the Buloke, Gannawarra and Swan Hill local government areas.
Sgt Bull said detecting 70 speeding offences, 11 illegitimate drivers and three impaired drivers was “still a bitter pill to swallow due to the sheer number of people flocking to our region”.
Operation Nexus targeted dangerous and reckless behaviour across the state during a traditionally high-risk period on the roads.
“We are certainly hoping that the end of the school holiday period will see people plan ahead to travel at quieter times or be prepared to display patience while travelling during busy times,” Sgt Bull said.
He urged motorists to be mindful of roadworks on the Murray Valley Highway south of Swan Hill which would continue until the end of the month.
“Police realise it may be an inconvenience for travel plans; however, we ask that you display patience and adhere to the traffic rules governing that stretch of road,” Sgt Bull said.
Sgt Bull said there were some drivers “willing to put the rest of us at risk on the roads”.
He said this included a 74-year-old detected speeding in Kerang with a suspended licence on March 29, a 54-year-old driving in Cohuna with drugs in his oral fluid on March 28 and a 69-year-old drink driver in Koondrook on March 28.
A 37-year-old Shepparton man was detected at 116km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Murray Valley Highway at Tresco on March 30 in a heavy vehicle while disqualified from driving in Victoria.
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old male was caught driving an unregistered vehicle at Castle Donnington with cannabis and MDMA detected in his oral fluid.
He received more than $1500 in fines and a six-month licence suspension.
Local police intercepted 13 unregistered vehicles and witnessed single seatbelt, mobile phone and disobey signs offences.
Across Victoria, more than 8000 traffic offences were detected during Operation Nexus.
Road policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said: “In the lead-up to Easter we were concerned a number of people would drive impaired over the Easter period and, sadly, that became a reality.
“To see people combining alcohol and speed is terrifying, putting not only their lives but the lives of others at serious risk.
“We saw two separate occasions of people overloading their cars with children, then driving impaired.
“This is complete idiocy and it’s lucky none of those children were killed or injured.
“The Easter long weekend has finished but we will continue to be on our roads, anytime, anywhere.”
The road toll for this year so far stands at 74, compared to 82 for the same period last year.
