A statewide resource, the State Highway Patrol travels to different areas across the state to assist local police to reduce road trauma and keep their communities safe.

With three fatalities in the region this year, four-day Operation Amadeus was an effort to address the potential causal factors of fatal and serious injury collisions to mitigate the high risk of further road trauma.

In conjunction with local units, eight State Highway Patrol units patrolled freeways and quieter residential roads to target speeding and impaired driving offences across the region - including Ballarat, Hepburn, Moorabool, Golden Plains and Pyrenees.

All of the state highway patrol units have drink and drug driving detection capability, in addition to ANPR equipment to detect speeding.

Senior Sergeant Geoff Joshua, from the State Highway Patrol, said he was disappointed with the results, which highlighted a disregard for road safety among the community.

Throughout the operation, a worrying 250 people were caught exceeding the speed limit. Of these, 11 were detected travelling at more than 25km/h over the posted speed limit.

Additionally, 17 people were detected driving with drugs in their system while two people were detected drink driving.

One drug driver was caught speeding at more than 170km/h on the Western Freeway. His licence was immediately suspended and his car impounded. He will face court at a later date.

Another drug driver was detected travelling more than 40km/h over the speed limit in a 60km/h zone near Delacombe Town Centre. This driver, who was unauthorised, had their car impounded and will face court.

Failing to wear seatbelts was also an issue, with 19 people caught driving without buckling up. Police also nabbed 15 people using their mobile phones while behind the wheel.

A dozen drivers were detected driving unauthorised while eight vehicles were impounded for a period of 30 days. It will cost the drivers a significant amount to get their cars back.

Additionally, 13 people had their licences suspended on the spot. Senior Sergeant Joshua said the main reasons for the suspensions were excessive speed or driving unauthorised.

Senior Sergeant Joshua said the results were "really disappointing".

"Some people are reverting to old habits coming out of COVID. Police are really disappointed with these numbers in a big way."

More frequently drivers being detected for offences, such as speeding, are found to have drugs in their system.

He said impaired driving was incredibly dangerous, as was speeding - which has been the cause of significant trauma in regional areas this year.

"If you choose to drive while suspended or disqualified then we will catch you," he added.

The operation will be repeated in the region in coming weeks.

"We hope that the next time we go there we see an improvement in overall driver behaviour," Senior Sergeant Joshua said.

"Road safety is everyone's concern and everyone is responsible for keeping our roads safe."