Fawkner Highway Patrol reveal most dangerous drivers during lockdown
A drug impaired man going 200km/h and an unregistered limo off to the impound yard, these are the shocking antics and dangerous moments witnessed on the roads in Melbourne’s north during the coronavirus lockdown. See which drivers made the terrifying list.
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Highway Patrol officers have lifted the lid on the most “head shaking” and dangerous moments on the roads in Melbourne’s north during lockdown.
Despite significantly lower traffic volumes, police said they had witnessed considerably higher speeds on the major arterials, including some drivers speeding at more than 100km/h above the limit.
Fawkner Highway Patrol Sergeant Dean Pickering said there had definitely been some “head shaking moments”.
He said officers had been focusing on major roads in the northern suburbs, including the Western Ring Road, Calder and Tullamarine freeways, CityLink, Sydney Rd, Hume Highway and Pascoe Vale Rd.
In one 60-minute period on the Tullamarine Freeway on April 19 police detected four drivers at more than 25km/h over the limit – the trigger point for automatic licence suspension – while booking five drivers for similar speeds across 90 minutes at the same spot two days later.
Sgt Pickering said as well as speeding offences, they were also detecting a significant number of suspended and unlicensed drivers and unregistered cars.
“We now have five of our Highway Patrol cars fitted with automatic number plate recognition,” Sgt Pickering said.
“Each of these police vehicles will on average automatically scan 2000-3000 cars and licences every shift.”
Sgt Pickering said officers were mindful many people were doing it tough at the moment and were exercising discretion where appropriate.
“These are generally offences where there isn’t a safety issue,” he said.
“Discretion won’t extend to excessive speeding, using mobile phones, red lights and other offences where safety is compromised.”
Sgt Pickering said they were also fining many traffic offenders $1652 for breaching stay at home restrictions.
LOCKDOWN NAUGHTY LIST: WORST 5 DRIVERS
– A drug impaired Prahran man, 28, was caught travelling at 200km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Tullamarine Freeway outbound near Bulla Rd about 10.45pm on April 9. He was arrested after testing positive for illicit drugs and charged with conduct endangering life. His Volkswagen Golf was impounded.
– A 21-year-old Reservoir man driving on an international licence was caught doing 164km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Western Ring Road near Sydney Rd about 3.15pm on April 10. His Volkswagen Polo was also impounded.
– An unregistered Nissan was detected travelling at 171km/h in an 80km/h zone on CityLink outbound near the Brunswick Rd about 8pm on April 10. Police impounded the 20-year-old Pascoe Vale man’s car.
– A 48-year-old Derrimut man was caught travelling at 175km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Western Ring Road eastbound near the Pascoe Vale exit ramp about 4.30pm on April 11. The Range Rover he was driving was impounded.
– An unregistered limousine was impounded by police when they busted the driver with a suspended licence on the Hume Highway in Campbellfield about 3pm on May 6. The stretched black limo was towed to the impound yard.
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