General News
28 September, 2023
Police op begins on Victorian roads
Victoria Police will be highly visible across the state as part of Operation Scoreboard, cracking down on drink and drug driving this AFL Grand Final long weekend. The state-wide road policing operation began yesterday and runs through to 11.59 pm...
Victoria Police will be highly visible across the state as part of Operation Scoreboard, cracking down on drink and drug driving this AFL Grand Final long weekend.
The state-wide road policing operation began yesterday and runs through to 11.59 pm on Sunday, October 1.
Police are putting Victorians on notice, warning road users there will be a zero tolerance approach taken to drink and drug driving and motorists can expect to be tested while on the roads this weekend.
The commencement of the operation comes as the number of lives lost on the state’s roads has soared to a seven-year high with 210 fatalities to date already this year, 27 higher than the same time last year.
Last year, police detected 436 drivers for drink and drug driving offences during Operation Score-board, with 123,568 alcohol and drug tests conducted by police.
With the long weekend in Victoria coinciding with the school holidays, police will also ramp up enforcement on major roads heading to regional areas and holiday hotspots.
Motorists heading away for the weekend are being urged to take extra care by avoiding distractions, taking plenty of breaks and refraining from speeding on regional roads, where more than half of this year’s fatalities have occurred.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir urged everyone to celebrate the long weekend responsibly.
“We encourage everyone to have a great long weekend and enjoy celebrating the biggest day on the footy calendar. But don’t let this be a day you remember for all the wrong reasons,” he said.
“Drinking and driving don’t mix, so if you’re planning to have a drink on grand final day, don’t drive — leave the car at home, arrange a designated driver and utilise alternative transport options.
“Alcohol and drugs continue to be overrepresented in fatal collisions and we don’t want to see any further tragedies on our roads this year.”