A 17-DAY police operation on Victorian roads has resulted in the detection of more than 16,000 driving offences.

Operation Saturn ran from 22 October to 8 November. During the time it was up and running, 11 people died on Victorian roads.

Police say that they are disappointed at the number of people they caught using their phones while driving. More than 800 people received mobile phone offences.

Road Policing Command Acting Assistant Commissioner John Fitzpatrick said “people are starting to drive both distances and speeds they are not familiar with, which carries its own risk.”

“But the thought of people then throwing distraction into the mix is a deadly combination,” he said. “I cannot stress the importance of leaving your phone alone while driving.”

Statewide, 413 drink drivers and 487 drivers with drugs in their system were caught during the operation.

First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 11 November 2020