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Police out in force catching dodgy drivers from St Kilda to the Mornington Peninsula

Distractions, drugs and drinking are being targeted in a four-day police operation stretching along Melbourne’s coastline. This is what’s on the radar for police.

South East Metro Area Acting Commander Tony Silva is leading the blitz. Picture: Derrick den Hollander
South East Metro Area Acting Commander Tony Silva is leading the blitz. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Dodgy drivers affected by distractions, drugs and drinking are being targeted in a four-day police operation stretching from St Kilda to the Mornington Peninsula.

Excessive speed and failing to give way will also be on the radar for officers patrolling during Operation Reset.

The Southern Metro Region road blitz kicked off at midnight and will run until midnight on Sunday.

“They (police) will be situated all the way down the coast, from St Kilda down to the Mornington Peninsula and inland anywhere in between,” South East Metro Area Acting Commander Tony Silva told the Herald Sun.

“They will be there in uniform and there in covert clothes as well. We are casting a bigger net over four days.”

Twice as many people have lost their lives in the area this year than at the same time in 2018.

“It’s certainly a concern for us to double that in that small period of time,” Acting Commander Silva said. “We’re now at 376 serious injury collisions.”

Emergency services at the scene of a fatal car crash at Tootgarook earlier this year. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
Emergency services at the scene of a fatal car crash at Tootgarook earlier this year. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Nine of the deaths in the region were on Mornington Peninsula roads.

Longer travel times, speed and distractions were cited as major contributing factors. Police are pleading for drivers to stay alert.

“Keep concentrating to focus on what is you’re in the car for,” Acting Commander Silva said.

“We need the community to start doing the right thing on our roads.

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“Plan your journey, share the driving, wear your seatbelt, turn off your mobile phone and always drive within the speed limit.”

The operation comes two weeks after a shorter and more targeted operation in a pocket of the district returned 20 positive drug tests and 18 positive breath tests in just a few hours.

The results flawed officers, who said it was new to see the quantity of drug results to outweigh the alcohol.

tamsin.rose@news.com.au

@tamsinroses

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/police-out-in-force-catching-dodgy-drivers-from-st-kilda-to-the-mornington-peninsula/news-story/3e9f36ea86808507b1b9d4decf3a243f