Police to hunt down unroadworthy vehicles on Western Hwy

Figuratively, of course.

'Operation Pirate' kicks off along the Western Highway from Tuesday July 26, targeting unroadworthy vehicles - including those with broken headlights.

Bald tyres and other canary-worthy problems will also be on the radar for police.

'This is the first time we have run this operation," Ararat First Constable Tom Horsten said.

"We will have extra officers on twilight shifts - and this'll be on top of normal police patrols.

"We'll be looking at cars, utes, trucks, trailers - really, any vehicle on the highway that is not in a roadworthy condition."

First Constable Horsten said driving with defective headlights was especially dangerous:

"We have all been in a situation where we think we see a motorbike on the road at night.

"But if you try and pass it, you might hit what is actually a car."

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"Also if you've lost one headlight, you're at particular risk because if the other one goes, you have no visibility at all."

James Walker of the Ballarat Roadworthy Centre in Delacombe said defective headlights on the left side of the car created the risk of colliding with cyclists, scooter users and roadside animals such as kangaroos.

A bad right headlight would put you in danger of hitting another vehicle.

"Headlights can also have poor aim - and small knock to the front of the car is sometimes all it takes," he said.

"Probably 50 per cent of the cars we see have headlights with an incorrect aim. Many are actually put in upside down.

"And even though headlights have changed a lot of the years, they're all still adjustable."

Staff said Ballarat Roadworthy Centre had a device which could detect and measure the aim of dislodged vehicle headlights.

First Constable Horsten said they would also be looking for bald tyres, which were a special risk in Winter because they had little grip on wet roads.

"If the vehicle is in very bad condition, we have the power to ground it so that it can only be driven if it's going straight to a garage," he said.

"Sometimes they have to be towed from the location - and then the vehicle has to get a roadworthy before it leaves the premises and that yellow canary sticker can come off."

He said the four-day blitz was more about education than fines:

"But we'll be issuing defect notices if we have to".

Operation Pirate follows Operation Speedie, which began in the Northern Grampians Police Service Area on July 10.

It targeted leadfoots on quieter rural roads.

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