A DRIVER was seen texting moments before reaching speeds of almost 200kmh, according to police.
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The Ford XR6 driver was travelling along the Melbourne-Lancefield Road about 2.40pm on Saturday.
Acting Senior Sergeant Dale Simm said the man appeared to have been using his phone before allegedly speeding up.
“He got into a position where he reached 196kmh in a 100kmh zone,” he said.
“He sped up not knowing police were there.
“He was intercepted and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Simm said he believed the 23-year-old had been in the overtaking lane at the time of the offence.
“It was very reckless,” he said.
“It was ridiculous really to go up to those speeds and it was lucky his vehicle didn’t have something go wrong with it.
“He could have run off the road or collided with someone else.
“It was good work by the police member to have intercepted the driver.”
The incident was one of more than 400 offences recorded in the Bendigo region by police over the Easter weekend.
Officers detected 12 drink drivers in the area, which covers Bendigo, Echuca, Heathcote, Kyneton, Gisborne, Maryborough and Woodend.
Police continue to investigate a motorbike crash at Ravenswood on Thursday.
Acting Senior Sergeant Simm said a 32-year-old Bendigo man fell off a red Honda near the Ravenswood Interchange about 3.50pm.
The rider returned a positive test for amphetamines.
“He will be charged with driving offences and drug driving offences,” he said.
“If anyone saw a red motorcycle travelling at high speed along the Calder Highway or Calder Alternate Highway near Ravenswood they can contact Bendigo Police.
“He sustained minor injuries in the incident.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Simm said police had worked long hours over Easter to enforce road rules.
“The Highway Patrol has had no rest days from start to finish,” he said.
“The results are not too bad. It would be better if the number was zero, but with the large amount of traffic on the road you do detect more offences.”