POLICE have praised south-west motorists after more than a thousand breath tests failed to pick up a single drink-driver.
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Extra police flooded the region’s roads at the weekend in a blitz to catch law-breaking drivers, particularly on the highways and back roads.
Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh, of Warrnambool police, said more than 120 offenders were picked up — many of them for speeding.
Despite stopping 1238 drivers for breath tests, not one was over the limit.
“The results in drink-driving were zero, which is an applaudable effort for the community,” Senior Sergeant Keogh said. Alcohol is the leading cause of deaths and injuries on south-west roads, he said.
Crystal methamphetamine was detected in one driver.
“Our biggest problem was with driver distraction and speed,” Senior Sergeant Keogh said.
“If you’re not concentrating, you’ve only got to take your eyes off the road for a second and you will hit a cow, another vehicle or come off the road.”
“Turn phones off or just put them away.”
There were also 29 notices given for defective vehicles.
“We’re into winter and people need to make sure their tyres are up to speed,” Senior Sergeant Keogh said.
The weekend’s effort involved an extra 20 officers from the state taskforce and the Northern Grampians police service area.
Senior Sergeant Keogh warned the blitz wasn’t a one-off, with a booze bus bound for the south-west.
“It will be in and around Warrnambool this weekend,” Senior Sergeant Keogh said.