Sixteen drug drivers were among 313 drivers caught doing the wrong thing during a four-day police blitz in Shepparton.
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The number of drug drivers caught during the operation represented one in every 12 drivers tested for drugs being positive to methamphetamines being in their system.
Eight units – and 16 police officers – from State Highway Patrol were in town from Thursday to Sunday (March 18-21) as part of Operation Amadeus, a rural road enforcement operation concentrating on speed, drug and alcohol impairment and distraction offences.
A total of 313 drivers were caught doing the wrong thing, with 379 offences detected overall.
Sixteen vehicles were also impounded for at least one month.
Drivers of these vehicles had been committing a variety of offences including unlicensed driving, driving while disqualified or suspended, and drink driving.
State Highway Patrol’s Senior Sergeant Ted Bourke labelled some of the results from the operation as “disturbing”.
Of the 24 impairment offences detected, three were for drink driving and 16 for drug driving.
“What is more concerning, but not surprising is the use of methamphetamines,” Sen Sgt Bourke said, with all of the 16 drivers caught with the same drug in their system.
One of those drivers was also drink driving at the time.
“It’s a strike rate of one in 12 drivers tested for drugs, tested positive,” Sen Sgt Bourke said.
“Drugs can stay in your system for up to seven days.”
He said Shepparton’s results for drug driving were similar to those from Ballarat or the Latrobe Valley.
He said these sorts of offences seemed to occur in places where there was a common theme of lower socio-economic areas present – of which Shepparton had some.
Police also caught 285 people speeding – with 12 of those caught at more than 25 km/h over the speed limit.
“People are just choosing to take risks. It’s a risk they can’t afford to take because it can easily go pear-shaped,” Sen Sgt Bourke said.
The biggest concern for police, he said, was the fact 117 drivers were caught driving between 10 km/h and 25 km/h over the speed limit.
“Some rural roads aren’t very good and if you make a mistake at that speed, it is hard to recover,” he said.
Fifty drivers were caught driving unregistered vehicles, while 23 drivers with suspended or disqualified driver's licences were also picked up during the operation.
Sen Sgt Bourke said drivers should be aware all State Highway Patrol vehicles were now fitted with automated number plate recognition cameras which was helping to catch drivers who were driving while disqualified or suspended.
“It’s a really good tool in our arsenal,” he said.
“People need to be aware they will be caught. No longer can they hide behind heavy traffic, because the camera will single them out.”
Sen Sgt Bourke said, in a normal year, State Highway Patrol would visit Shepparton about four times.
However, COVID-19 has affected the number of visits in the past year.
While figures during this operation were similar to the normal numbers caught in Shepparton from State Highway Patrol operations, it was up slightly this time.
In light of the operation, Sen Sgt Bourke asked drivers to be considerate on the road.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
“And if you continue to flout the law, you will be caught, and you will be dealt with,” Sen Sgt Bourke said.
Offences during the operation included
● 16 drug drivers;
● 3 drink drivers;
● 285 speeding;
● 50 driving unregistered vehicles;
● 23 suspended or disqualified drivers.
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