Emergency services have been called to a number of collisions over the past week where motorists have allegedly fled the scene.

On Tuesday a 20-year-old man allegedly drove away from two collisions before his car broke down in Smythes Creek and he was arrested. Police have yet to apprehend two people who fled a multi-car collision on Saturday.

The car did not have any visible registration plates. 

Ballarat Divisional Response Unit Inspector Greg Payne said drivers of stolen, unlicensed or unregistered vehicles should simply not be on the road. 

“The risk to the community is that the vehicles should not be on the road for a variety of reasons including being; stolen, unroadworthy, unregistered or the driver unlicensed,” Inspector Payne said. “The drivers of these vehicles in essence should not be on the road driving the vehicle.” 

Police have arrested 55 people over three months as they crack down on recidivist offenders committing a string of offences including aggravated burglaries, car thefts and arson. Police units are regularly patrolling and conducting targeted operations to track and detain drivers and vehicles that should not be on the roads. 

Inspector Payne said illegal drivers posed a significant safety risk to other road users and crashes involving these drivers often had huge financial implications, particularly given stolen vehicles were often not insured.

Motorists are urged to call triple-0 if they see cars with no number plates or witness a collision where a driver flees the scene. Witnesses should note down any identifying features of the vehicle or the driver.

Inspector Payne said the message to law-breaking motorists was clear: “You are putting lives at risk by not rendering assistance to other persons involved in a collision”.

“If you do leave the scene of a collision where someone is injured you are committing a serious offence punishable by imprisonment and police will take the appropriate action.”