By ANEEKA SIMONIS
EARLY bird police caught a bad driving worm when a probationary driver overtook their unmarked car at more than 40km/h over the speed limit in Kooweerup.
The 19-year-old Cannons Creek P-plate driver was nabbed on Wednesday 29 June and was the latest of three motorists who were caught out in a newly launched police road safety operation targeting early morning speedsters in Cardinia shire.
On Monday 27 June, an 18-year-old Warragul man, also on a probationary licence, was detected travelling at 143km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Princes Highway near Tynong.
A short time later, a Drouin man aged in his 40s was also detected travelling at about the same speed on the same stretch of road.
All three drivers were slapped with $645 fines and received six demerit points.
Police also cancelled their licences for six months.
Cardinia Highway Patrol Sergeant Rob Atkinson slammed the drivers, describing their behaviour as “absolutely ridiculous” and in “blatant disregard” for other road users.
“If you hit anything at these speeds, someone won’t get to go home” Sgt Atkinson said.
“We have lost too many people of our roads this year and speeding is probably the main contributing factor in fatalities and serious injury collisions.”
Operation Early Bird aims to wipe out speedsters on Cardinia shire’s major arterials in the early morning.
One hundred and fifty three people have died on Victorian roads so far this year, 16 more than this time last year.
