166 drivers nabbed during unofficial long weekend

MORE than 160 people were nabbed for various road offences across Geelong and the Surf Coast region under Operation Amity.

During the unofficial long weekend, extra focus was placed on road policing efforts as Victoria Police predicted a final summer surge to coastal regions.

Operation Amity ran across five days starting on Friday, January 22, and concluding at 11.59pm on Tuesday, January 26.

The operation focused on impaired driving, speeding, fatigue and mobile phone use across the state, with the blitz coming as Victoria recorded a sixth road death.

Across the state there was plenty of devastation as the road toll more than doubled since the operation began.

Victoria at the time of print recorded 13 lives lost – a 28 per cent decrease from the previous year to date.

More than 112 drivers were nabbed for speeding offences in the region during the operation which included five drivers being pulled over by police within 15 minutes on Anglesea Road.

Sergeant Stephen Bull said the five drivers were detected speeding between 4.30pm and 4.45pm on January 25.

“Their speeds ranged from 17 to 24 km/h over the posted 60 zone, with infringements issued on the spot,” he said.

Seatbelts continued to be an issue with seven drivers across the Greater Geelong and Surf Coast regions receiving police infringements for non-compliance.

Out of the six lives lost prior to the unofficial long weekend, Victoria Police believed that at least half of those people were not wearing a seatbelt.

Acting Assistant Commissioner John Fitzpatrick has said there is no excuse for seatbelt non-compliance.

“Putting on a seatbelt gives you the best chance of survival if involved in a serious collision,” he said.

“Sadly, lives could have been saved if people managed to do this simple task.

“Whether you are travelling a short distance down the road or on a long journey – always wear a seatbelt.”