Suburban drivers 'most dangerous'

Fewer country drivers engage in key categories of dangerous driving than their counterparts on Melbourne's fringes.

Fewer drivers from Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Shepparton were caught drink driving, speeding or driving while on the phone, than drivers in satellite suburbs such as Frankston, Cranbourne, Werribee or Narre Warren.

Victoria Police data rates drivers from Cranbourne and Narre Warren as particularly dangerous.

Cranbourne had the highest number of speeding drivers caught, 2030, and ranked in the top five for drink driving and mobile phone offences.

Of Victoria's regional centres, Ballarat drivers were the most likely to offend, ranking in the top 10 for both speeding and drink driving.

But drivers from Geelong and Shepparton did not feature in the top 10 in any category, while Bendigo ranked 10th in speeding.

Victoria's top traffic officer, Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe, says it was disappointing to see 11 areas cropping up in all three lists.

"Today I have a strong message for people living in the areas we are releasing today - you're on notice," Mr Walshe said.

"Cranbourne features in the top four of each of these lists and this is absolutely unacceptable."

Mr Walshe said there was a connection between the regions listed across the three categories and the number of road fatalities in those places.

"The wider Casey area is the number two area most at risk for road trauma and these results prove that a lot of this has to do with the attitude of drivers in this area."

Police say they have a number of targeted traffic operations planned over coming months.

"The message from us today is that people in these areas need to change their attitude and change their behaviour," Mr Walshe said.

The police figures show driving offences between July 2009 to June 2010.