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General News

25 January, 2024

Road policing operation underway this weekend

With the Australia Day long weekend kicking off today, motorists are being warned to drive safely with a statewide policing effort now underway. Operation Amity, which began yesterday, will see police highly visible across major roads and highways...

By Prealene Khera

Road policing operation underway this weekend - feature photo

With the Australia Day long weekend kicking off today, motorists are being warned to drive safely with a statewide policing effort now underway.

Operation Amity, which began yesterday, will see police highly visible across major roads and highways across the state — targeting speeding, impaired drivers, fatigue, distraction, vulnerable road users and seatbelt compliance, in an effort to reduce road trauma.

With the return of school next week, police are also cautioning 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.

Warning against rushing, authorities are urging motorists to allow plenty of extra travel time — with speeding set to be a major focus for police during the operation, given that excessive or inappropriate speed contributed to a quarter of all fatal collisions in 2023.

During their recent Operation Roadwise, conducted over the Christmas and New Year period, police detected more than 7500 speeding offences, a majority of which involved vehicles going between 10 and 25 kilometre per hour over the speed limit, attracting a $385 penalty and three demerit points.

“Speed remains the number one cause of road trauma and fatalities,” Central Goldfields Highway Patrol Sergeant Paul Martin said.

“Slowing down could be the difference between arriving alive and not arriving at all.

“Police will be targeting speeding drivers throughout Operation Amity — not only dangerous drivers who excessively speed but also those who think it’s acceptable to travel a little bit over the speed limit.”

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

Held around the same time last year, the 2023 operation saw police conduct 114,973 preliminary breath tests and 2730 roadside drug tests, with 225 drink drivers and 198 drug drivers detected.

“Miscalculation of alcohol consumption is one of the most common reasons given to police when drivers are caught over the limit — suggesting that many people are prepared to risk having a few drinks before getting behind the wheel,” Sgt Martin said.

“We need everyone to completely separate the behaviours of drinking and driving, they don’t mix.

“Driving is a complex task that requires concentration, judgement and decision making. Alcohol affects these skills and your ability to safely control a vehicle.

“If you’re planning to have a drink, don’t drive — leave the car at home, arrange a designated driver, and utilise alternative transport. We don’t want to see anybody getting behind the wheel if they’re impaired.”

Operation Amity will run statewide from now until 11.15 pm Sunday, January 28.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads this long weekend, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.

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