POLICE caught 59 drivers across just two days last week for a range of driving offences, targeting dangerous and reckless drivers travelling on major highways between Victoria and South Australia.

‘Operation United’ was conducted last Thursday and Friday which saw police intercept hundreds of vehicles, with Warrnambool superintendent, Melissa Webbers, stating the operation made sure law breakers learnt their lesson.

“Throughout Operation United, police officers actively engaged with drivers, not only enforcing the law but also taking the opportunity to educate them about safe driving practices,” she said.

Numerous roving police patrols populated roadside checkpoints on the Western and Princess Highways and country backroads, across the Warrnambool and Horsham areas.

The crackdown saw 37 speeding drivers caught, with 31 of them detected travelling between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.

Highway Patrol and general duties police breath tested over 900 drivers. Only one driver was caught with an alleged blood alcohol reading (BAC) over 0.05 per cent while another was caught driving while allegedly drug impaired.

Three drivers were caught not wearing a seatbelt, and two people were caught driving while using their mobile phone.

Ms Webbers said regional areas were experiencing “extremely high levels of trauma” relating to a multitude of different factors.

“Our intel shows that most collisions on regional roads are being caused by minor forms of non-compliance – meaning that simple mistakes behind the wheel are leading to catastrophic consequences,” she said.

“Some of the factors include people not wearing seatbelts, travelling at high or inappropriate speed or failing to stop at red lights or give way at intersections.”

Ms Webbers urged people to rethink their own behaviours on the road and the potential implications of non-compliance.

“Let’s all get back to basics and focus on the key behaviours that will keep us safe when driving – slow down, put down the mobile phone, and pay attention to road signs, other road users and your surroundings,” she said.

Police will continue to have a major focus on drink and drug driving over the remainder of the year, with a state-wide road policing operation to be launched later in the month.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads during the festive period, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.