Police will conduct a major operation to target unauthorised drivers, including those in Hume and Whittlesea, who are thinking about getting behind the wheel this Australia Day long weekend.
Police across the state will utilise automatic number plate recognition technology (ANPR) to detect and remove drivers and motorcyclists who are unlicenced, suspended, and disqualified.
The five-day operation will see police highly visible to reduce road trauma across the unofficial long weekend, with a focus on major arterials, coastal holiday hotspots, and travel on rural roads.
It comes as 24 lives have been lost on Victorian roads in the first 23 days of the year, double the five-year average of 12, with three quarters of fatalities occurring on rural roads this year.
Assistant Commissioner of road policing Glenn Weir said unauthorised drivers should think twice about getting behind the wheel.
“You will be caught,” he said.
“Police will be highly visible and enforcing to reduce road trauma during Operation Amity – as well as unauthorised drivers, we’ll be targeting speeding motorists and conducting widespread alcohol and drug testing during the Australia Day period.”
With all Victoria Police highway patrol vehicles fitted with the ANPR technology, as well as additional police vehicles in regional and specialist areas as part of an ongoing trial, there are now more ANPR-fitted police vehicles on Victorian roads than ever before.
It is estimated that ANPR can scan up to 76 million number plates each year – or 8675 number plates an hour.
Mr Weir said the ANPR technology gives police another set of eyes on the roads to stop unauthorised drivers in their tracks.
“Our capability to detect and enforce against unauthorised drivers and motorcyclists has never been greater,” he said.
“These drivers have no right to be on our roads and pose a significant risk, not only to themselves but to all road users.
“Increasingly, we’re seeing unauthorised drivers involved in road trauma and fatal collisions.”
During a recent statewide road policing operation, ANPR helped police detect 1021 motorists who should not be on the roads, 33 per cent more than the previous year.
The long weekend blitz will commence at 12:01am on Wednesday, January 25 and will conclude at 11:59pm on Sunday January, 29.
