Victoria Police focusing on road safety during long weekend operation

Police will be highly visible on roads across Victoria in an attempt to reduce road trauma across the Australia Day long weekend and positively influence road users’ behaviour.

Victoria Police is anticipating high volumes of traffic on roads on Sunday and Monday, with many people returning home as schools recommence classes from Tuesday, January 28.

Police will be targeting high-risk areas, particularly major arterials and travel on rural back roads, and there will also be a major focus on impaired drivers and testing for alcohol and drugs.

There will be zero tolerance for drink- and drug-driving over the Australia Day long weekend, and motorists should expect to be tested while out on the roads.

Victoria Police urge that if you are planning to have a drink, don’t drive, and to arrange alternative transportation options or designated drivers.

There will also be an emphasis on speeding — it remains the number one cause of road trauma and fatalities on roads, with 2,261 speeding offences detected during last year’s ‘Operation Amity’.

Last year, police detected a total 5,206 traffic offences during ‘Operation Amity’ including 154 drink-driving offences and 121 drug driving offences.

“As always, road safety is everyone’s responsibility; take your time, be patient and courteous on the roads and enjoy the long weekend with family and friends,” Echuca Police Station Acting Sergeant Gary Atkins said.

“Victoria Police will be out anywhere, any time over the long weekend to keep our roads safe.”

Echuca police are also targeting the use of E-scooters in the area due to the risk to pedestrians and other road users.

E-scooter riders must be aged 16-and-over, wear a helmet, ride at no more than 20km/h, ride on shared paths, bicycle paths and roads with a speed limit of up to 60km/h, use flashing or steady front and rear lights if riding in the dark or low light, and park reasonably in a location that does not pose a safety hazard.