Drug-driving link to collisions

POLICE linked drug-driving to a significant number of collisions over the Labour Day long weekend.

Patrolling officer Sergeant Brian McKiterick said Geelong and Colac units targeted speed, drink-driving and “more importantly drugdriving” as part of the Operation Arid road safety blitz.

“We have identified that drugs play a significant role in road fatalities and collisions, which were targeted over this long weekend,” he said.

“Everyone who was given a breath test was also tested for drugs.

“Data is being gathered at the moment and it’s identifying in a significant number of collisions the offending driver had substances in their system.”

Police said a 36-year-old driver was nabbed with a blood alcohol reading of .192 in Gellibrand St, Colac, about 1.15am on Saturday under Operation Arid.

The Ford sedan being driven by the Colac man was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1170 and he is expected to be charged on summons with drink-driving.

The road safety operation began on Friday and ended at midnight on Monday, with police saying a large number of offences took place on the first and final days.

“People are more likely to be on the road on Friday and Monday, travelling between their holiday destination and home, whereas people tend to stay in the one location on the Saturday and Sunday,” Sergeant McKiterick said.

Police statistics shows historically March has been one of Victoria’s most high-risk months on the road, with 25 fatalities in March 2021, seven of those on the Labour Day long weekend.

“It reinforces that police are there to ensure motorists abide by the road rules and maintain road safety for people travelling through these periods,” Sergeant McKiterick said. “We know when there is visible police presence it can be a deterrent.”