Eleven drivers were caught driving impaired — with either alcohol or drugs in their system.
The worst example was a man who was allegedly almost six times the legal alcohol limit when he was stopped in Shepparton at 9.10pm on Friday, December 29.
The 43-year-old allegedly recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.294.
He will face court later this year on drink-driving charges.
Eastern Region Division 3 Acting Senior Sergeant Jenni Lamond said police conducted 1748 alcohol breath tests on drivers during the 18-day operation that started on December 15.
No drink or drug drivers were detected during the first six days of the operation, from 636 breath tests.
While the results started well, Act Sen Sgt Lamond was not pleased with the number of impaired drivers caught later in the operation.
“It’s disappointing. In an 18-day operation, that’s nearly one a day caught in the Shepparton area,” she said.
“It’s disappointing we are still seeing drug and drink drivers.
“Given the (high) road toll in 2023, it is disappointing the message is still not getting through.”
However, she warned that police would continue to crack down on those who got behind the wheel after drinking.
“If you choose to drink and drive, you’re risking your life and the lives of other road users,” she said.
Act Sen Sgt Lamond said 243 motorists were picked up drink-driving in Eastern Region, while 149 were drug-driving.
Statewide, 1203 drink drivers were caught, while 535 motorists were picked up drug-driving.
While disappointed in the number of impaired drivers, Act Sen Sgt Lamond said overall, motorists’ road behaviour had been positive in Greater Shepparton.
A total of 125 offences were detected in Greater Shepparton.
“We aim for zero (offences), which means everyone is doing the right thing,” Act Sen Sgt Lamond said.
“When you are aiming for a base of everyone doing the right thing, 125 offences, including 11 impaired drivers, is not a positive thing.”
However, Act Sen Sgt Lamond was pleased that no fatal crashes had occurred in Greater Shepparton during the road operation period.
Last year, two people died in two separate crashes on New Year’s Eve in the region.
Longwood’s Jaye Munn died after her motorbike hit a pothole on the Barmah-Shepparton Rd at Kaarimba.
A woman also died in a crash between two cars at the intersection of Labuan Rd and Fowlers and MacArthur Rds at Yarroweyah.
There has been one serious crash in Greater Shepparton this Christmas period.
A woman was injured in a single-vehicle crash at Kialla on December 15.
Act Sen Sgt Lamond said the car rolled on an embankment and hit a tree on Mitchell Rd, near the Coach Rd intersection.
The woman was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening injuries, and as of Tuesday, January 2, she was still in hospital.
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