More roadside alcohol tests planned for long weekend

By Monique Preston

Nov 2, 2023

Operation Furlong: Police will be taking a zero tolerance approach to drink drivers this long weekend. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Police will conduct more roadside alcohol testing over the Melbourne Cup long weekend and are urging motorists to separate their drinking and driving behaviour.

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Operation Furlong, which starts at 12.01am on Friday, November 3, will see police conducting widespread roadside alcohol and drug testing throughout Victoria.

Last year during the five-day operation, police detected 224 drink driving offences from 66,172 preliminary breath tests — a strike rate of one in every 295 drivers caught over the limit.

Police are anticipating about 120,000 preliminary breath tests will be conducted during this year’s operation, with volume testing impacted last year by strict COVID-19 protocols that have now been scaled back.

Victorians celebrating the Melbourne Cup and attending events across the state are being warned there will be zero tolerance for drink and drug driving, and with increased testing capacity, motorists should expect to be tested this weekend.

Police said those intending to enjoy a few drinks should avoid driving by planning ahead, arranging a designated driver or utilising alternative transport options.

Police are reminding motorists that the penalties for drink driving are significant, with a first offence for a fully licensed motorist over 26 years caught with a blood alcohol limit between 0.05 and 0.07 receiving a $577 fine and immediate three-month licence suspension.

The penalties increase substantially for those under 26 years of age, those required to have a zero blood or breath alcohol level, those caught for second or subsequent drink driving offences, and those over 0.07 or above.

The warning from police comes as the number of lives lost on Victorian roads had reached 237 on Thursday — edging close to last year’s 241 lives lost for the entire year.

It’s also the highest number of lives lost since 2016, with 240 fatalities to date.

Operation Furlong will run from 12.01am on Friday, October 3, to 11.59pm on Tuesday, November 7.

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police expected to conduct almost double the amount of roadside alcohol tests during this year’s operation.

“This means that for those who make a poor decision to drink and drive, it’s even more likely you’ll be caught and face significant and costly consequences,” he said.

“Police will have zero tolerance for drink and drug driving — these behaviours continue to contribute significantly to serious injury and fatal collisions, and we’re doing everything we can to reduce further trauma on our roads this year.”