Police are calling on motorists to be extra vigilant this long weekend as the number of lives lost surges to a 16-year high.
Operation Regal, launching on Friday June 9, will see police ramp up enforcement across the state and Greater Geelong in an effort to drive down road trauma.
It follows a period on our roads which saw 29 lives lost during May, more than double the same month last year, and five fatalities in the first week of June.
Senior Sergeant Craig Stevens Geelong Highway Patrol said motorists can expect to see a higher police presence on our local roads.
“There will be extra units out patrolling our major arterials and highways,” he said.
“You can expect to be tested for drugs and alcohol.”
Senior Sergeant Stevens said there had been 12 lives lost on Greater Geelong roads in the past 12 months and 300 serious injury collisions.
“These serious injury collisions, some of those people are impacted forever,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Stevens said with some poor weather on the horizon this weekend, motorists can take steps to avoid accidents.
“We may see some poor weather, so slow down, leave some extra space when driving in the wet and use your headlights to see and be seen by everyone else,” he said.
There have now been 140 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2023, up 35 per cent on the same time last year. The last time 140 lives lost had been recorded at this point of the year was in 2007, when there were 143 lives lost.
There have been 111 single vehicle fatalities, eight double fatalities, two quadruple fatalities and one quintuple fatality this year, compared with 101 single vehicle fatalities and only one double fatality this time last year.
The increase in multiple fatality collisions has seen passenger deaths rise 255 per cent to 32 from nine this time last year, while driver fatalities have increased 56 per cent to 69 from 44 last year.
Police suspect a wide range of contributing factors are behind this year’s fatal collisions, including excessive or inappropriate speed, impaired driving, seatbelt non-compliance, distraction and disobeying traffic signs, and unauthorised driving which includes being suspended, disqualified or unlicensed.
These behaviours will be a key focus for police over the King’s Birthday long weekend, identified as a high-risk period on Victorian roads.
Police will target major arterials and highways leading to the state’s holiday hotspots and alpine regions, with the Victoria’s snow season set to officially launch this weekend.
Motorists heading to the snow are being urged to monitor the conditions prior to travelling and ensure they’re carrying and using appropriate wheel chains as legally required.
With several events and festivals scheduled across the weekend, police are also reminding motorists to avoid driving whilst impaired, with widespread drug and alcohol testing to be conducted.
Last year, police issued more than 5000 infringements during Operation Regal – more than 40 per cent were motorists detected speeding and 372 were detected for drink and drug driving offences.
Operation Regal commences at 12:01am Friday June 9 and will conclude at 23:59pm on Monday June 12.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
