Victoria Police are astounded at the number of drink and drug drivers caught during the first four days of a major statewide road policing operation.
Despite numerous warnings for motorists to expect widespread alcohol and drug testing throughout December, police have detected 328 impaired drivers since Operation Roadwise commenced on 18 December.
In four days, police conducted 63,007 preliminary breath tests and caught 201 drivers over the blood alcohol limit – a strike rate of one in every 313 drivers tested.
A further 127 drivers were caught drug driving, with police conducting 2372 roadside drug tests.
Overall, police have detected a total 3,814 offences during the first four days of Operation Roadwise (18 – 21 December), including:
- 1519 speeding offences
- 378 unregistered vehicles
- 303 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
- 251 disobey signs/signals offences
- 201 drink driving offences from 63,007 PBT’s at a strike rate of 1:313
- 146 mobile phone offences
- 127 drug driving offences from 2372 roadside drug tests at a strike rate of 1:19
- 75 vehicle impounds
- 58 seat belt offences
The high number of detections has prompted another police warning prior to Christmas, with police urging all motorists to separate drinking and driving.
Police say they will be working around the clock over the Christmas period, with alcohol and drug testing blitzes set to continue into the new year.
Motorists are again being warned to expect to be tested anywhere, any time.
Operation Roadwise will continue into January and will see police highly visible across the state’s roads.
