Over the King’s Birthday long weekend, more than 6,500 offences were detected during a major road safety effort.
Operation Regal saw police targeting high-risk driving behaviour across the state over four days in an effort to drive down road trauma, following a shocking period that has seen the highest number lives lost recorded on Victorian roads in 16 years.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing Martin O’Brien said over the long weekend, police have seen an increase in collisions involving vehicles on mountain roads or four-wheel-drive tracks.
“Unfortunately, one of these has resulted in a fatality, whilst there were several other near misses police responded to, the wintery weather can create dangerous conditions on these mountain roads and four-wheel drive tracks, and if you’re unfamiliar with these roads or inexperienced driving them, it can be a recipe for disaster,” he said.
“We would advise motorists to monitor the conditions and avoid travelling on these roads if you’re unequipped or it is unsafe to do so – you’re better to play it safe than be sorry.
The number of infringements issued by police over the four-day operation increased 15 per cent on last year, with 40 per cent of all offences detected for speeding.
Automatic numberplate recognition technology helped police detect 407 unauthorised drivers – either for being unlicenced, disqualified or suspended.
Widespread alcohol and drug testing also resulted in 196 drink drivers and 170 drug drivers caught from a total 102,044 tests.
Ass Commr O’Brien said this year’s Operation Regal saw an increase in the number of offences detected.
“This is really disappointing as it indicates that many motorists are continuing to take risks on our roads,” he said.
“Police will continue to enforce against those who engage in risky driving behaviour, and we make no apologies for this. It only takes one poor decision and a split second to cause a tragedy.”
The total 6,546 offences detected during Operation Regal included:
• 2,652 speeding offences
• 647 unregistered vehicles
• 407 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
• 354 disobey signs/signals
• 224 mobile phone offences
• 196 drink driving offences from 99,099 preliminary breath tests
• 170 drug driving offences from 2,945 roadside drug tests
• 159 seatbelt offences; and
• 145 vehicle impoundments
Recent collisions have sparked a warning from police for motorists to be extra cautious when travelling on mountain roads and four-wheel drive tracks, particularly during the winter months when road or track conditions can be affected by wet weather and poor visibility.
The weekend’s fatalities bring the total number of lives lost on Victorian roads this year to 143, up 35 per cent on the same time last year (106).
