Operation Quebec nabs 98 drivers

By Matt Brogan | December 19th, 2008

As part of Victoria Police’s Operation Quebec, state police issued 98 penalty notices to motorists travelling on major arterial roads across Melbourne last night.

The traffic safety operation which started last night at 5pm and finished at 1am today focused on poor driver behaviour around Footscray, Dynon and Flemington Rds, Royal Parade, Lygon and Victoria Sts and St Kilda Rd and involved nine unmarked police cars and three motorcycles.

The night’s biggest incident involved a teenage driver caught at 117km/h in a 60km/h zone – almost double the speed limit.

“Police are out in force trying to ensure that the roads remain safe this holiday season,” Senior Sergeant Pettingill said, “We are not focused on just speeding or mobile phones. We are focusing on all driver behaviour. If you are on the road you have an obligation to yourself and other road users to obey the road rules”.

In total, 175 cars were intercepted with penalties ranging from mobile phone use to driving while disqualified, speeding, ignoring traffic signals, not wearing a seat belt or driving an unregistered vehicle.

More than 12,000 motorists have been booked in Victoria so far this year donating some $1.7 million into State Government coffers.

WVB

more like,
Operation Quebec nabs 98 morons.
http://skyline The Salesman

They should give themselves a ticket for bad taste, Blue and orange, YUK. Well done though, it is amazing how many people ignore even the most basic road rules. A pity we even need to be policed.
Were do they come up with these nome for the operations?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=674330849 lazybones

“Operation Quebec nabs 98 morons. ” Thats about right, and its only getting worse!

Lots of young drivers, driving cars more powerful than they can handle. The age is running a story on a lad who was caught doing 117 in a 60 in Carlton!

And as for red light jumpers, waiting on level crossings and talking on mobiles while driving…. the list just goes on!
http://www.caradvice.com.au Matt

Right lane hogs are becoming a pet hate of mine. What happened to “Keep left unless overtaking”? Even the road side signs aren’t posted any more.
Nick

Matt I agree. I use the F3 most days of the week and I actually find the left lane to be quicker that the right. Also, I have never heard of anyone being fined for not keeping left!
MisterTwo

Yes Matt I hate the right and middle lane hogs too. Having learned to drive in Europe where lane discipline is a nessecity due to the much higher speeds on the highways, I find it very frustrating when people just sit in the middle or left lane. I was on the Monash a few weeks ago in the laft lane when a Yaris joined from a junction. I moved into the middle lane to allow them to merge (which doesn’t happen very often either) and the yaris immediately crossed the left lane and into the middle lane in front of me and sat at 75kph. Dispite me flashing my main beams she did not move and I had to the right lane to get past. Totally inconsiderate driving. I don’t see the point in adding extra lanes when the ones that are there are not even used properly.
MisterTwo

just spotted the mistake, I thould have said “I find it very frustrating when people just sit in the middle or RIGHT lane”.
MB

Seriously this is the TOG job to do this all the time. If they had any credabilitity this is what they should be doing as a minimum all the time.

There is no prejudice to road deaths, breaking road rules etc… it happens 365 and it should be policed as such…Not just a focus over a couple of hours

Where was the cop to pull over the VN Commodore in front of me this morning in the rain with no working stop lights
Dutchey

i fully agree i live in nz and no1 has the skills to move out of the right lane if they are not overtaking it is becoming more and more “acceptable” to just ignore the rules. As for the story i think the police are wasting there time on things that dont really need 2 be addressed there are bigger fish to fry.
RoFlmaTiC

Here in WA the laws have been amended so that it’s no longer illegal to hog the right lane unless the speed limit is 90kph or over. I’m not sure what the laws are over east though.

That said it still bothers me when people drive in the right lane at below the speed limit, whatever the speed.

This morning on the way to work I saw an idiot speeding through the city trying to run a traffic light smash into a taxi. Noone was injured though but yeah.
James

it wont prevent accidents.. just to fill up the monthly quota and an excuse to get even more money.

They know it.

In the end, people (some) will still drive carelessly and will cause accident. The police are humans and can only patrol what is infront of them.
Cameras dont really nab accidents, instead nabs people going 5~10 kmph over the limit and fine them. The real culprits of accidents are prone to speed cameras or police cars…. these drivers do not speed when they see suspicicious cars or cameras…. but chances are these are the people that you hear on the news which are involved in accidents.

you can’t stop it… police cant… they can only control a tiny portion and make the state government money from it…

if they really want to enforce safety. how about putting speed limiters on actual cars. That are controlled by the speed limit in the vicinity… it might sound “too far fetch” or futuristic.. but its not. But no one makes money that way… well except the company that provides the equipment…
Sam

MB
“Where was the cop to pull over the VN Commodore in front of me this morning in the rain with no working stop lights”

There can’t be a Police car on every inch of the road you moron. But then I sure you took the rego and reported the matter and offered to give evidence.
acfsambo

I have no sympathies to those who get caught speeding or diving illegally. If you are breaking the law its your own fault. The old “i didn’t know it was illegal” or “i didn’t know the speed camera was there” doesn’t work because ever driver should know the road rules and shouldn’t speed.
Reckless1

People who are muttering about lane hogs should learn their rules.

At speed limits of 80k or below, the “keep left unless overtaking” rules do not apply. That means on the Monash you can sit in the right lane at 80ks all day and not be breaking the law.

But for the self-righteous Mister Two, I can advise that flashing headlights at someone IS illegal.
http://skyline The Salesman

Reckless1,
True, but common sense should prevail. As well as good manners.
MB

Sam

Of course I dont expect the police to be covering every inch of the road. Just these blitz campaigns could be better focussed. i am no angel on the road I have a few speeding fines but it just amases me to see so many unroadworthy cars on the road that are accidents waiting to happen. It is all the worse this time of year and especially if the road is wet after a couple of dry days.
J

I think this is a great thing that should be applauded. Instead of focusing on speed cameras, we’re seeing the return of proper policing of our roads. I hope that the focus on poor driving behaviour and not just speeding increases, and is not just limited to a state initiative in VIC.

To Reckless1, you are correct on the 80km/h issue, but I thought the rule for flashing headlights only applied to high beam, not main beam? Anyway, this issue is in the weeds of the argument. Flashing any lights wouldn’t be a temptation if people exercised common courtesy & common sense on the roads. Over 40,000km per annum on SE Qld roads can attest to this.
http://Internode.on.net Peter

What about the moron behind me on the Hume between Canberra and Goulburn last Wednesday in a 40 roadwork zone who was 1. sitting up my clacker 2. talking on mobile (in 1 hand) 3. drinking coffee (in the other hand) and 4. chatting with his wife – ALL AT THE SAME TIME. After the roadworks he sped off and sat on the next person’s bum.

OK – now I have that off my chest.

I agree with J. Congrats VicPolice – should be done in every state. Also should check roadworthiness of vehicles (possbly RTA inspectors).
MisterTwo

So according to you Reckless the Yaris was in the right because their maneouver wasn’t illegal, although it was dangerous and pointless? I don’t know how some Australian drivers would cope in Europe – rammed off the road probably. And Europe has far less accidents per 1000 population than Australia with more than double the number of cars and the average speed on the highways at 130kph. Comes back to driver training and road awareness every time.
http://skyline The Salesman

MisterTwo
Maybe Australia should take a page out of the book of European road rules. We have the least amount of people per square mile yet are limited to 110Kph? With the greatest distances to travel between city’s, it just doesn’t make sense. It is not the speed that kills, it’s the sudden stop.
Reckless1

Mister2, you have a problem – where did I say the Yaris was in the right? I was merely pointing out the law, and that what YOU did was illegal, giving YOU no right to be self-righteous.
Would I have moved over to let someone merge? – If I can, I do. What do I do if they are a pillock in a Yaris who then pulls in front of me and sits on 75? – I shrug, call them a stupid cnut, change lanes and drive on.

Salesman, I agree it may not be courteous to sit in the right lane at 80 (and I never do it, everything is bigger than my GTI ) but as I said, I was just pointing out what the law states.
AlbertK21

Recently I’ve twice reported serious incidents (one involved a trailer detached running across the road), with completed details, including rego number, the police response “what do you want me to do?”. The surly, rude attitude was disgusting. I once pointed out to the policeman breath testing me that the car in front was unroadworthy, broken light clusters, only one operating brake light, no plate light, his response was to conduct a roadworthy on my car. I wrote a letter of complaint – nil response. This cavalier approach to road safety would not be tolerated in the workplace. More, much more & better trained police are desperately needed on our roads – NOW.
Cupid Stunt

Salesman – Our speed limnit is 70mph (112kph) on motorways and fenced dual carriageways, that same as yours. However our police have more tolerance to speeding and won’t nab you for driving sensibly at 80mph (128kph). I for one regulary stick the cruise on at 145kph. However I never speed in built up areas and stick to the 50kph.
Simon

My thanks also to the Victorian police for making their presence known. Approaching Christmas I have noticed a big increase in the police on QLD roads also, so thanks there too.
Salesman, something you may have no considered is the quality of roads. Most autobahns and freeways throughout europe are far superior in construction and serviceability. This generally makes them safer for higher speeds. The other factor is people in Europe are also usually more considerate.
I think that another factor in road tolls around this time of year is the large number of people who just don’t drive often or far. When you are a professional driver (e.g. truckie) or on the road all the time then you find even weekend drivers can be a source of frustration. (if you fit these categories you will know what I mean).They just don’t get it. This is why I usually let my wife drive on the weekend, I can switch off and avoid frustration!
http://skyline The Salesman

Simon,
My wife’s driving frustrates me, who stops at a give way sign? agggh. Quality of the roads is an issue. I read a study not long ago that found a large % of Australian over taking lanes were to short. For Example, say you are in a100kph zone and the driver in front is traveling at 90kph (my wife, probably looking for a give way sign) you would need to exceed the limit in order to over take with in the allocated space. Maybe speed is not the problem?
http://skyline The Salesman

Cupid Stunt,
I am sure in Australia we allow 10%. So in a 100 zone you can sit on 110 with out fear. I hope i am right, other wise i might expect a letter in the post with a picture of my car I will speed up if you wave.
http://skyline The Salesman

AlbertK21
There was a number you could call to dob in an unroadworthy car. It was a national program. All you had to do was give the licence plate. I wonder what happend to that.
Andrew M

T-S,
ive always thought a 10% was applied to allow for errors, but every now and then you hear of a blitz that pulls people over for 41 or 42 in a 40 etc.

Cupid,
one thing i found weird when i was in London was how you keep left on the roads for courtesy, but on the escalators you keep right????
Learnt that one quickly after jumping on the escalator and being groaned at because instinct threw me to the left.

Also when you accidently walk in a bike lane in Germany you know about it he he he he

Reckless,
I actually thought you didnt have to keep left unless the speed was under 90kmh
But I suppose ive never seen a speed limit above 80kmh, yet under 90kmh

And on tailgaters etc,
just do your job and steer your car.
whenever im a passenger with the missus, she will watch the mirror heavily and talk about what the car behind is doing.
I tell her just to watch what she is doing to make sure she doesnt cause an accident due to being distracted.
Geni

Andrew, T-S, I think thats a NSW rule, in Victoria they can get you for 2km/hr or more over. Something that sadly catches out a lot of people driving through Victoria.

There is no one answer for what causes accidents. Government blames speed because thats the easiest to police, and you can make a lot of money doing it. But I think the real answer is a combination of inattention, lack of driving skill, and stupidity. People who can’t think beyond their little cage to consider other drivers and vehicles around them.
Falcodore

Its got me stuffed how vic police can nab someone doing 3k’s over the limit when the ADR tolerance is +/- 10% for car speedos.
All those ppl should file a class action lawsuit to get their money back, thats just BLATANT revenue raising!
http://skyline The Salesman

I would like to see all the money raised from traffic fines put into driver training programs. They should be free to all licenced drivers who wish to attend. Also, learner drivers should not have to fund their lessons. The log book system needs to include defencive driving courses.
MisterTwo

^I agree Salesman, having a licence is seen as a right where it should be seen as a privilege and treated with the respect it deserves.
lola

Police Ford Falcons are the most reliable, they are much less prone to engine overheating in high speed operations as compared to inferior Holden Commodores especially the earlier LS1 models and V6 including current V6s. Ford Falcons in an N/A configurations are bulletproof in such applications, including TAXI, Government vehicle fleets and Police fleets. Ford always!