Authorities in Western Victoria have uncovered 112 road safety violations as part of a sweeping operation throughout September.
Dubbed Operation West Connect, highway patrol crews intensified efforts across key routes, honing in on dangerous driving practices linked to road fatalities. The operation is a timely response to the grim statistics: 211 road deaths across Victoria in 2024, 53 of which occurred in Western Victoria alone.
Tragically, 15 lives were lost in the Bendigo, Campaspe, and Macedon Ranges area, while 14 died in the Ballarat and Moorabool regions. The Horsham and Northern Grampians area reported seven deaths, and five lives were lost in the Mildura and Swan Hill area. Meanwhile, the Warrnambool and Southern Grampians region and the Geelong and Surf Coast region both saw six fatalities each this year.
Focusing on dangerous driving such as speeding, distractions, and impaired driving, Operation West Connect continues to sweep through major routes, from Geelong to the South Australian border, and as far north as the NSW border.
In September, speeding was the top offence, with over half of all infringements linked to drivers going 10-25km/h over the speed limit. Officers conducted 363 breath tests and 70 roadside drug tests, resulting in four drug-driving charges and one for drink driving.
A breakdown of the 112 offences includes:
- 63 speeding violations
- 12 defect notices
- 7 unregistered vehicles
- 6 seatbelt offences
- 4 mobile phone offences
- 4 drug-driving offences
- 3 cases of disqualified or suspended drivers
- 1 heavy vehicle offence
- 1 disobeying a traffic sign
- 1 drink driving charge
Western Region Road Policing Inspector Justine Ryan stressed the importance of responsible driving: “Speeding remains the leading cause of serious crashes and fatalities. Even slight excesses in speed can dramatically heighten the risk of accidents.”
Inspector Ryan also noted a worrying rise in drivers failing to wear seatbelts and those distracted by mobile devices. “Simple actions like adhering to speed limits, wearing seatbelts, and staying focused on the road can make all the difference in keeping our roads safer for everyone.”
Operation West Connect is ongoing, with authorities determined to curb the region’s road trauma.