One in every 335 drivers tested by Victoria Police during a four-day blitz across the King’s Birthday long weekend were caught drink driving.
There were 205 drink driving offences detected from 68,673 preliminary breath tests conducted by police during Operation Regal held from Friday, June 6 to Monday June 9.
A further 168 drug driving offences were detected from 2740 roadside drug tests conducted during the operation – a strike rate of one in every 16 drivers.
More than 40 per cent of all offences detected were for speeding, with the majority of those caught between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.
Over 430 drivers who shouldn’t have been on the road at all because they were either unlicensed, disqualified or suspended from driving were caught during the operation.
Police also issued 499 infringements to motorists for disobeying traffic signs or signals, 174 for mobile offences, and 90 for seatbelt noncompliance.
Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner David Byrt said the results were disappointing, especially given the poor weather conditions across the long weekend.
“It is even more difficult to avoid a collision in wet weather or when visibility is poor if you’re speeding, distracted, or driving while impaired, and yet we caught so many people blatantly taking those risks,” Assistant Commissioner Byrt said.
“The number of drivers who were caught driving while alcohol or drug affected this weekend is completely unacceptable.
“These drivers are not only a serious risk to themselves, but to all other road users.
“Police will continue to enforce against those who engage in risky driving behaviour, and we make no apologies for this.
“It only takes one poor decision and a split second to cause a tragedy.”
