By Molly Magennis
A total of 74 traffic offences were detected across Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay during the Anzac Day long weekend as part of an extended police operation.
Operation Compass started prior to the Easter long weekend on Thursday April 14, and wrapped up on Monday April 25.
Both Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay recorded 37 offences each over the Anzac Day weekend, with disqualified driving, unlicensed driving and driving unregistered vehicles being the most common offences.
Police detected five disqualified drivers, two unlicensed drivers and eight unregistered vehicles on Hobson Bay’s roads.
Six speeding drivers, two drunk drivers and one drug affected driver were also caught.
The trend was similar in the neighbouring local government area of (LGA) of Maribyrnong, with eight disqualified drivers, six unlicensed drivers and four unregistered vehicles being detected by the authorities.
Five motorists were caught using their mobile phones, and seven were found to be driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Across the state, 12,791 traffic offences were detected by police during the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends.
Speeding offences were the highest recorded offence across Victoria, with 4966 recorded, 579 of which were caught driving more than 25 kilometres an hour over the speed limit.
Acting assistant commissioner of road policing David Clayton said the number of offences detected during the operation was disappointing.
“That’s almost 13,000 instances of people making poor decisions and putting themselves and others at risk on the road,” he said.
“Tragically five lives were lost during Easter, four of them pedestrians struck by vehicles. With worsening weather conditions and reduced visibility as winter approaches it is imperative motorists and pedestrians look out for one another.
“While our statewide operation may have concluded, rest assured police enforcement against poor road user behaviour remains ongoing. We will be doing everything to protect our most vulnerable road users.”
