Ballarat Highway Patrol charged drivers with 186 offences over the Australia Day long weekend, with 91 drivers booked for speeding offences. 

Sixty-nine people were charged with driving between 10 km/h and 25 km/h over the speed limit. 

In total, 11 drivers were charged with driving less than 10 km/h over the speed limit and 11 motorists with driving more than 25km/h over the speed limit. Of the 2325 preliminary breath tests taken across three booze and drug buses in Ballarat, five people were charged with drink-driving offences. 

Nine people were charged with drug offences. 

Ballarat Highway Patrol acting Senior Sergeant Stuart Gale said he was pleased with the Ballarat results, despite some disappointing incidents. 

“Overall we were quite pleased within the division, with fatalities and road trauma down this long weekend,” Acting Senior Sergeant Gale said. 

“In saying that, it was disappointing that our officers continued to detect so many offences, despite an excessive media campaign.” 

Acting Senior Sergeant Gale said the number of speeding drivers detected in Ballarat was high and was mainly due to impatience. 

“The reports we get through show that drivers are impatient, with many overtaking on double lines,” he said.

“Motorists need to take care on the roads and make sure they’re giving themselves enough time to arrive at their destination.” 

Acting Senior Sergeant Gale said he hoped the message was getting through. 

“I hope we would be having some impact in the community,” he said. 

In addition to the charges made by the Ballarat Highway Patrol, police also arrested four people on Monday night for being drunk in a public place.

Operation amity

186 offences detected over four days.

2325 preliminary breath tests. 

Five drink-driving offences.

Nine people charged for drug offences.

Four disqualified drivers.

Seven unlicensed drivers.

11 speeding offences (less than 10 km/h over the limit).

69 speeding offences (between 10 and 25 km/h over the limit). 

11 speeding offences (more than 25 km/h over the limit).

Six seatbelt offences.

12 mobile phone offences.

12 unregistered vehicles.

Two impoundments (one car, one motorcycle). 

kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au