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Boosted local Highway Patrol and State Highway Patrol resources have been deployed to Southern Metro Region Division 3, which comprises the municipalities of Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia, as part of Operation Prominent.

Sadly, 18 lives have been lost on local roads in the division so far this year, which is the highest lives lost figure of any division across the state.

Southern Metro Region Division 3 Inspector Tom Nairn said overwhelmingly poor decision making and driver behaviour was contributing to the number of collisions and crashes on local roads.

“Of the 18 incidents where people have lost their lives, at least 11 of those can be directly attributed to the behaviour of drivers on our roads and the choices they make,” Insp Nairn said.

“People in this area are making a choice to drive whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they’re making a choice to speed or drive when they’re not authorised to do so.

“Tragically these choices can result in people losing their lives and leaving families and friends without their loved ones.”

Since its commencement on Friday, the operation has seen seven people caught for drink and drug driving and another 15 unlicensed and disqualified drivers.

Police have conducted more than 2180 breath tests, with three drink drivers detected.

Five drug tests were also conducted, with alarmingly four drivers found with drugs in their system.

Further results from the first 3.5 days of Operation Prominent show:

- 157 speeding offences

- Four mobile phone offences

- Four seat belt offences

- 18 unregistered vehicles.

Two intercepts of note during the operation include:

- A BMW sedan detected travelling at 179km/h in a 100km/h zone on Ballarto Road, Cardinia about 4.58pm on Monday. The male P-plate driver will be charged on summons with speed dangerous, failing to display P plates and driving a probationary prohibited vehicle. His vehicle was impounded for 30 days at a cost of $972.

- A Holden sedan detected travelling at 110 km/h in a 70km/h zone on Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd, Dewhurst about 5pm on Saturday. The female driver was fined $595, and lost six demerit points.

Highly visible enforcement activity across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia will continue during the nine day operation.

“We make no excuses for challenging this behaviour, pulling people over who are speeding, intercepting people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and prosecuting them to the full extent of the law,” said Insp Nairn.

Operation Prominent will run until Saturday 19 August.