Police have been left dismayed after ten drivers were caught travelling at dangerously high speeds across Horsham and the Wimmera region this week.
Horsham Uniform officers intercepted several drivers, with the majority caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 25km/h.
Six drivers had their licences suspended on the spot, including a probationary driver who was allegedly clocked 49km/h over the speed limit - just 11 days after obtaining his licence.
This comes amid an alarming rise in road fatalities across Western Victoria. Eighteen lives have been lost on local roads this year - double the number recorded at the same time last year.
Those caught were:
• A 18-year-old Ararat man was detected allegedly travelling 109km/h in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He had his licence suspended for 12 months after only obtaining his probationary licence 11 days prior. He received a $988 fine for speeding and $198 for failing to display probationary plates.
• A 42-year-old Roxburgh Park man was detected allegedly travelling 96km/h in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He had his licence suspended for three months and received a $642 fine.
• A 29-year-old Acacia Ridge (QLD) man was detected allegedly travelling 94km/h in a heavy vehicle in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He received a $1383 fine.
• A 79-year-old Horsham man was detected allegedly travelling 93km/h in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He had his licence suspended for three months and received a $642 fine.
• A 60-year-old Melton South woman was detected allegedly travelling 127km/h in a 100km/h zone on Western Highway in Great Western. She had her licence suspended for three months and received a $543 fine.
• A 41-year-old Hughesdale man was detected allegedly travelling 87km/h in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He had his licence suspended for three months and also received a $543 fine.
• A 33-year-old Windsor Gardens man was detected allegedly travelling 87km/h in a 60km/h zone while unlicenced on Main Street in Great Western. He had his licence suspended for three months and received a $543 fine for speeding and $988 for Unlicenced driving.
• A 28-year-old Tarneit man was detected allegedly travelling 83km/h in a heavy vehicle in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He received a $790 fine.
• A 65-year-old Sunshine West man was detected allegedly travelling 86km/h in a heavy vehicle in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He received a $790 fine.
• A 37-year-old Cairnlea man was detected allegedly travelling 87km/h in a heavy vehicle in a 60km/h zone on Main Street in Great Western. He received a $1087 fine.
Police will be highly visible and enforcing across the state, with a major focus on high-risk regional areas as well as motorcyclist safety.
A statewide road policing operation will be launched early in March to coincide with the Labour Day long weekend in Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Western Region Division Four Superintendent Sharon McCrory:
"Enough is enough. The number of people caught driving at these extreme speeds is disgraceful, and we will not tolerate it."
"Too any people are dying needlessly on our roads. It's that simple. And if you choose to break the law, expect to be caught, fined, and have your licence ripped away from you on the spot."
"Our members are dedicated to putting a stop to this kind of behaviour - we are everywhere, at all hours."
