Motorists on notice to drive safely

With the return of school next week, police caution all road users to prepare for an influx of traffic as many Victorians hit the road for the last long weekend of the January holiday period.

Speeding drivers will be a major focus for police during the operation, with excessive or inappropriate speed contributing to a quarter of all fatal collisions in 2023.

Police detected 7631 speeding drivers statewide during Operation Roadwise during the Christmas and new year period, with the majority of those caught between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit, attracting a $385 fine and three demerit points.

With roads expected to be busy, police are urging motorists to avoid rushing by allowing plenty of extra travel time.

There will also be zero tolerance for drink and drug driving over the long weekend, and police said motorists should expect to be tested at one of many alcohol and drug testing sites operating across the state.

During last year’s Operation Amity over five days, police conducted 114,973 preliminary breath tests and 2730 roadside drug tests, with 225 drink drivers and 198 drug drivers detected statewide.

In 2023, January saw a particularly high number of fatal collisions, with 32 lives lost for the month.

This included eight people who died in four separate crashes within a 50-minute drive of the Shepparton central business district.

While there has been less trauma so far in 2024, police said drivers should not become complacent.

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir urged people to take it easy, be courteous to other road users, and allow extra travel time so they were not speeding to reach their destination.

“Not only is speeding the most common factor in fatal and serious injury collisions, but it continues to be the penalty we issue the most infringements for — and it’s completely avoidable,” he said.

Operation Amity runs statewide from 12.01am on Thursday, January 25, to 11.15pm on Sunday, January 28.