POLICE are continuing an operation targeting speeding drivers on Mornington Peninsula and Frankston roads after early results showed too many drivers were not getting the message about the dangers of speed.
Somerville Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant, Christopher Spero says Operation SAST over the summer holidays showed that too many motorists were complacent when it comes to speeding, despite speed being one of the major contributors to road trauma.
Operation SAST saw police targeting drivers on high-risk roads between November and February, with 241 traffic offences detected on the peninsula. Seventy per cent (169) of offences detected during the operation were for speeding.
Most speeding offences (86 per cent) were for drivers travelling between 10kph and 25kph over the speed limit.
A further 12 drivers lost their licence for travelling 25kph or more over the speed limit. During the operation, police also detected one drink driver, seven drug drivers and issued 37 infringements for unregistered vehicles.
Police are urging motorists not to be complacent on the roads, as the number of lives lost in Victoria continues to rise.
Somerville Highway Patrol will be conducting two more road safety operations across Frankston and the peninsula in March in an effort to drive down road trauma.
“Unfortunately, it’s been a bad start to the year on our roads, with the number of lives lost across the state well above the same time last year and the five-year average,” Acting Sergeant Spero said. “Even if it’s just a little bit over the limit, motorists should remember that you’re much more likely to be involved in a serious injury or fatal collisions.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 7 March 2023
