More than 1,000 heavy vehicles targeted over five days as part of a joint police operation to detect offences
March 29, 2011
More than 1,000 heavy vehicles have been targeted over five days as part of a joint operation to detect speed, fatigue and licence offences.
Operation Western Borders was run in partnership with the South Australian and Victorian police forces, VicRoads, the South Australia Department for Transport and the Sheriff’s Office.
A total of 1644 heavy and light commercial vehicles were checked through highway patrols and static road blocks which were staged at various locations along the arterial routes into Western Victoria and South Australia.
The operation detected 401 offences, which included 93 work diary infringements.
They detected 28 speed offences, caught 16 unlicensed drivers and found 137 un-roadworthy vehicles.
Fifteen drivers tested positive to drugs, while police recovered more than $238,092 worth of fines.
Operations Commander Superintendant Graeme Arthur says speed, fatigue and drink and drug driving are still prevalent in most serious and fatal road crashes involving heavy vehicles in Victoria.
“This is why operations such as this remain a large focus for police,” Arthur says.
“The results of the operation clearly show that some drivers continue to flout the law.
“This is the third year we have run this type of operation; it’s getting bigger and bigger each year with growing cooperation from interstate and other partner agencies.”