Police are pleading with motorists, including those in Hume and Whittlesea, to prioritise road safety over the Christmas and New Year period as Operation Roadwise kicks off.
The statewide road policing operation, which launched on Friday, December 13 will run for an extended 20-day period and will see police highly visible across the state’s major roads and arterials.
There will be a significant focus on impaired driving with police conducting widespread alcohol and drug testing every day throughout the operation.
Police conducted more than 300,000 preliminary breath tests and almost 9000 roadside drug tests during last year’s Operation Roadwise.
Data shows December is the worst month of the year for drink driving offenses, recording the highest number of drink driving detections and most collisions where the driver was over the blood alcohol limit.
Motorists are being warned they should expect to be tested anywhere, any time and to separate drinking and driving by planning ahead, arranging a designated driver or using alternative transport.
Operation Roadwise will see police highly visible on roads around coastal areas and popular holiday hotspots across regional Victoria.
With Boxing Day one of the busiest days for travel across the state, police are urging those hitting the roads to be patient, avoid distractions and take regular breaks to prevent fatigue.
To avoid receiving an infringement and having a costly Christmas, motorists are advised to obey the road rules and stick to the speed limits.
Police issued more than 19,000 traffic infringements during last year’s Operation Roadwise including 7631 speeding offences.
There were 17 lives lost on Victorian roads last year between 15 December and 1 January.
