DRINK-DRIVERS have been banished from Victorian roads at a rate of almost 50 a day during a major police blitz.

Acting Chief Commissioner Kieran Walshe said he was disappointed 2610 people lost their licences for exceeding their alcohol limit during operation Summer Stay.

“The behaviour of each one of these drivers could have resulted in a tragedy,” Mr Walshe said.

More than 1.1 million people were breath-tested during Summer Stay, which ran for 52 days until midnight Sunday.

The highest number of drink-drivers was caught on the Mornington Peninsula, where 88 people lost their licences.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said there had for a long time been a “cultural” problem with drink-driving in the area.

The next worst places were Yarra Ranges with 85, Dandenong with 62 and Stonnington with 61.

Mr Walshe said the drink-drive test rate of one positive per 432 motorists was poor but an improvement on the one in 332 from last year.

“This shows that even more motorists are becoming well and truly aware of the dangers of drink driving and are making the right choice by not risking their lives and the lives of others,” he said.

Summer Stay also detected 397 drug-drivers, 4510 disqualified and unlicensed drivers, 3584 seatbelt breaches, 23050 speeding offences and 5734 breaches of mobile phone laws.

Police said 433 cars were impounded.

Transport Accident Commission chief executive officer Janet Dore said the rate of speeding detected during Summer Stay was a “disgrace”.

“These people should really count themselves lucky that they have only been handed a fine and haven’t killed someone,” Ms Dore said.

Ninety Victorians died in road accidents linked to speeding last year.

“To learn that more than 23,000 drivers have put their lives and their passengers’ lives at risk by driving too fast was incredibly disappointing, and something that our community should be ashamed of,” Ms Dore said.

Mr Walshe said he found the seat-belt figure astounding.

“There is nothing more frustrating for police than attending a fatal collision where we know that a person would have sustained only minor injuries should they have been wearing their seatbelt,” he said.

Originally published as 50 drink-drivers lose licences a day