Police blast speeding drivers

YARRA Ranges Traffic Management Unit police have been horrified and appalled by a total disregard for road rules by motorists.
Last month, the TMU charged five motorists for driving a staggering 55 kilometres per hour over the speed limit.
TMU officer, Acting Sergeant Graeme Rust said the worst was a 26yearold Olinda man who was allegedly clocked driving 200kph in a 100kph zone along the Maroondah Highway in Coldstream.
He said the man is now awaiting summons to appear before the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court for speeding, dangerous driving and other traffic offences.
“We (TMU) are horrified by the degree of neglect that people seem to have on the roads,” he said.
Acting Sgt Rust said drink driving was also a grave concern for the TMU, when the latest operation on Tuesday, 1 November, in Coldstream saw 617 motorists breath tested and five drivers charged for exceeding the prescribed blood alcohol reading.
He said one driver had a blood alcohol reading of 0.291, which was the highest reading he had seen in the area.
Acting Sgt Rust said the Yarra Ranges TMU in conjunction with Maroondah had been running Operation Night Stalker since the beginning of this year.
In that time, he said 61 drivers had been charged with drink driving and 468 motorists had been charged with a total of 521 offences including driving while disqualified, and driving an unregistered vehicle.
He said of the 12 fatalities in the Yarra Ranges so far this year a number of those accidents could be attributed to speed.
Acting Sgt Rust has also questioned why drivers would put themselves into a position where they lose their licence and face the possibility of having an alcohol interlock device put on to their cars.
He said motorists for their first offence can face $1200 fine, plus the loss of licence and if they are 0.15 or more over the limit may face having an interlock device constriction placed on them.
An interlock is placed on the car and prevents the ignition from starting if the motorist has the presence of alcohol in their system.
Acting Sgt Rust said the device costs motorists up to $170 a month for a minimum of six months.
He said the information on the device has to be downloaded each month and presented to the court.
Acting Sergeant Rust said drivers need to take notice that it is not only their lives they are putting at risk but also other road users.