General News
8 April, 2025
Road safety warning for local drivers ahead of busy Easter holiday period
Police are urging locals play their part in community safety by being cautious drivers coming into April.
Police are urging locals to play their part in community safety with a clear message ahead of changing conditions and increased traffic over the Easter school holidays — “don’t be complacent”.
The warning from Victoria Police comes as kids return home for two weeks of school holidays ending with the Easter long weekend.
Police expect to see more traffic as holiday makers take advantage of the break this month.
While there have been 77 deaths on Victoria’s roads so far this year, over half on regional roads, none have happened in the Goldfields PSA.
Zero deaths, to Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir, is where it should be.
“The only acceptable number of deaths on our roads is zero, which is why we cannot afford to be complacent as we head into April,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are driving close to home on familiar local roads, or travelling further away, the risk of road trauma is always present.”
Central Goldfields Highway Patrol Senior Constable Xavier Guthrie agreed saying that weather conditions can turn what is a familiar drive into something motorists may not expect.
“Five minutes longer to get somewhere is better than not arriving there at all,” he said.
This advice comes following 17 fatal collisions in April last year, 11 of which occurred within 15 kilometres from the deceased’s home address.
“Don’t be complacent,” Sen Con Guthrie said.
Among the changing conditions is the end of daylight savings last weekend meaning it will be darker for longer. Victoria Police urge motorists to drive to these conditions, including switching on headlights to help see and be seen.
From tyre tread through to working head and tail lights Sen Con Guthrie encourages motorists to check over their car as the conditions begin to change.
“The roadworthy conditions of people’s cars ... is really important,” he said.
While tread is just one example he said it’s a factor in the car’s braking distance. Good tread displaces water on the road allowing a car to more quickly come to a stop.
“It greatly [improves] your braking distance, especially in the wet,” he said.
But it’s not the only factor for tyres that Sen Con Guthrie wants drivers to consider, instead also looking at their overall condition.
“If you hit a pothole the chances of your tyre staying intact varies greatly depending on the condition of the tyre.”
While there are some things drivers won’t be able to control this April, Sen Con Guthrie said it’s the trinity of speeding, impaired driving, and fatigue that drivers can stop.
“Their decision to choose to speed, choose to drive while having substances in their body, or driving tired, they can make the active decision to not drive and do their part to improve community safety,” he said.
According to Victoria Police, they will be prioritising road safety this month culminating in a statewide “road policing blitz” around Easter and Anzac Day.
“Police will have a major focus on road safety this month – motorists can expect to see us highly visible and enforcing across the state’s roads, particularly over the upcoming Easter and ANZAC Day period,” Assistant Commissioner Weir said.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads during April, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.