Days after a 34-year-old allegedly unlicensed man was charged over a fatal collision in Scarsdale, alarming statistics have been released.

Police fined 50 people for driving while disqualified or unlicensed during the Operation Roadwise safety blitz.  This was up from 39 the year before. 

The city’s highest ranking police officer Superintendent Andrew Allen said police remained focused on getting these law-breaking drivers off the road.

“The offences of unlicensed and disqualified drivers do add to dangers to other road users,” Superintendent Allen said.

“We prioritise getting these drivers off the roads.”  

A serious Good Friday hit-run where Rebekah Stewart allegedly hit cyclist Christian Ashby while driving disqualified is also before the courts. On Monday a  21-year-old woman was found guilty, fined and suspended after she was caught driving while disqualified twice on the same morning. 

However Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Pat Cleary said drug and alcohol affected drivers, speeding drivers and distracted drivers continued to be among the riskiest drivers on the road. 

“We implore that road users don’t drop the ball,” Senior Sergeant Cleary said. 

“We have no room for trauma on our roads.” 

Across the state the operation found more than 35,335 offences and saw 15 lives lost on roads.

Ballarat’s road offences went up 15 percent, with 433 recorded during the 2016-17 operation compared to 376 the year before.

“Alcohol, drugs, speed, fatigue and distraction – unfortunately police saw far too many risks every day in the 24 day operation,” Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said. 

State member for Western Victoria Joshua Morris called on the state government to deliver more police resources to ensure those breaking the law were detected.

“The number of disqualified drivers being detected is alarming, and the community has a right to be concerned,” Mr Morris said. 

Opposition police spokesman Edward O’Donohoe called for an urgent review into the Toward Zero campaign and said a review of penalties should be part of the inquiry. 

Minister for roads and roads safety Luke Donnellan said every Victorian played a part in making the road a safer place.