‘Operation Worthy’ was conducted by uniformed officers from Daylesford and Trentham, with support from the Ballarat and Moorabool highway patrol units. 

Police caught a drink driver, a drug-affected driver, two people driving with suspended licenses, five drivers speeding and one failing to display P-Plates. 

Six defect notices were also issued, with two of those vehicles being required to undergo a roadworthy. Items deemed defective included bald tyres, broken lenses, inoperable lights, cracked windscreens, damaged seatbelts and vehicles with low suspension not complying with clearance requirements. 

Daylesford Police Sergeant Matthew Flood said driving with an unroadworthy vehicle was a serious matter and put all road users at risk.

“One vehicle had the steel showing through the rubber of their tyres – this type of behaviour is dangerous and unacceptable.

“The area is well known for icy conditions including heavy rain, sleet and snow with frost often covering the dark narrow country roads,” he said.

“It is also populated with wildlife. I can’t stress enough how important it is to maintain your vehicle, because if something does happen, your vehicle should, at the very least, be at its optimum.”

He reiterated travelling on the region’s roads at this time of year had an increased risk. 

“It can be dangerous and requires concentration and adept driving skills, it also requires patience. Police across the Hepburn area will continue to focus on driver behaviour, driving to the conditions and will be conducting roadworthy checks of vehicles in an effort to keep road users safe.”