General News
20 September, 2022
Community urged to have fun, but be safe as Victoria gears up for four-day long weekend
Enjoy the long weekend but be safe, is the message local police are sharing this week, as Victorians gear up for a four-day weekend and the AFL Grand Final. Victoria Police’s Operation Scoreboard kicked off today, earlier than usual due to the...
Enjoy the long weekend but be safe, is the message local police are sharing this week, as Victorians gear up for a four-day weekend and the AFL Grand Final.
Victoria Police’s Operation Scoreboard kicked off today, earlier than usual due to the September 22 public holiday — which has been marked as a National Day of Mourning for the death of Queen Elizabeth II — followed by the annual public holiday on Friday for the grand final.
Police will target speeding and distracted drivers heading out to regional areas on high-risk rural roads and highways over the long weekend, along with fatigue and drink and drug driving.
The safety messages come as Victoria has recorded 178 lives lost on the roads in 2022 — 21 higher than 2021 (157).
Two lives have been lost on local roads recently, with wellknown community member Ian Hoyland and a 46-year-old Avoca man dying in separate collisions weeks apart during August.
Central Goldfields Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Andrew Henderson urged road users to take it easy no matter what their plans are this weekend.
“This safety message is really important. Drive to the road and weather conditions. Enjoy yourself over the long weekend but be safe,” he said.
“Take rest breaks, and take your time getting to your destination. Have a designated driver if you’re going to and from functions or grand final parties.
“There’ll be an increased police presence across the state.”
Act Sgt Henderson said it’s also important to be safe when heading home on Sunday.
“With increased traffic on the roads on Sunday after the long weekend, just be patient with other road users,” he said.
“Everyone will be trying to get home to the same destination so make sure you have adequate rest and that you’re sober and safe to drive home.”
Motorcycle safety will also be a major focus with a concerning rise in the number of motorcyclist deaths this year — there have been 38 fatalities, trending well above the five-year average of 27 and on track to exceed the highest number of motorcyclist fatalities recorded in the last five years.
“More motorcycles on Victorian roads has led to an increase in motorcycle trauma in 2022, and alarmingly we are on track to exceed the most motorcycle deaths recorded in the last five years,” Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Glenn Weir said.
“Concerningly for police, October to December is historically one of the highest risk periods for motorcycle trauma, however we are already trending well above previous years. We need to do everything we can to prevent more rider deaths and serious injuries from occurring.
“During Operation Scoreboard, police will be keeping a close eye out for motorcyclists engaging in risky behaviour, particularly speeding which has contributed to more than half of rider deaths this year.”
Operation Scoreboard will end at midnight on Sunday.