POLICE in central Victoria conducted almost 8000 preliminary breath tests across the long weekend, topping the state.
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Bendigo Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Mark Edwards said 437 offences were recorded over the four-day period, including 12 drink and drug drivers and 425 speed and distraction infringements.
He said while there were no fatalities, police were called to a serious collision near Eppalock on Saturday, where speed is believed to have been one of the main contributing factors.
The driver, a man from Taylors Lake, was treated for minor injuries.
Senior Sergeant Edwards said the collision had the potential to be more serious.
On Sunday, five people were taken to Bendigo Health after a collision on the Loddon Valley Highway near Serpentine about 3.30pm.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the people involved included a teenager with chest pain, a person in their 40s with neck, chest and arm pain and three others with minor injuries.
You need to concentrate on the task at hand and not be distracted by the radio, the phone or people around you.
- Mark Edwards
A 29-year-old man had his vehicle impounded and was expected to be charged after he was clocked driving more than 70 km/h over the speed limit on the Calder Freeway near Faraday on Saturday.
Police from the Macedon Ranges Highway Patrol caught the man, from Knoxfield, travelling at 172km/h in a 100km/h zone about 3.30pm.
Senior Sergeant Edwards said the fact there were no fatalities was a positive.
"The same time last year we had six fatalities across the state and two in central Victoria," he said.
"This year we had none across the state. This is a fantastic result."
Senior Sergeant Edwards said while the operation was over, motorists should not be complacent.
'Every time you jump in a motor vehicle and switch it on you need to have your wits about you," he said.
"You need to concentrate on the task at hand and not be distracted by the radio, the phone or people around you. It's so important to pay attention. You can't take it seriously enough."
Senior Sergeant Edwards said police would conduct Operation Arid over the Labour Day weekend in March, with the assistance of the State Highway Patrol.
The state road toll sits at 18, three less than the same time last year.
