No deaths, but speeders disappoint

Police have lauded the behaviour of motorists in the Great Southern following the conclusion of the double demerit Easter holiday period yesterday.

No serious crashes or fatalities were recorded in the region as many returned home on major highways including Albany Highway yesterday.

A bolstered road safety effort included support of traffic enforcement group officers from Perth throughout the four-day break.

As of yesterday morning, more than 200 drivers had been issued speeding infringements and only a small percentage had been caught drink-driving.

Great Southern police traffic enforcement Sergeant Andrew Norton said 80 speeding infringements were issued as a result of speed cameras and 138 motorists were handed-on-the-spot infringements by officers.

As of Monday morning, Great Southern police had conducted 5085 random breath tests, with eight drivers charged with drink-driving offences.

Sgt Norton said while the behaviour of some speeding drivers on Albany Highway was disappointing, the majority had been vigilant.

“We have had no serious crashes, no major or fatal crashes so we have been travelling OK,” he said yesterday morning.

“It’s disappointing to have more than 200 people caught speeding despite the publicity and the pre-warning so that’s a little bit disappointing you could say.

“Generally speaking, I think the community has embraced the increased police presence and there hasn’t been any moaning.”

Wagin police allegedly clocked a P-plate driver travelling at 132km/h in a 90km/h zone on Albany Highway on Sunday evening.

The driver also allegedly blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.95 with children in the vehicle

It comes after Wagin police also allegedly clocked a driver at 150km/h on the Albany Highway near Kojonup on Friday.