Residents throughout the Hills and Dandenong Ranges are being urged to stay safe and drive sensibly as we head into one of the most dangerous times of the year on our roads.
Police Minister Lisa Neville today joined Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Glenn Weir to launch Operation Roadwise, and drive home the importance of staying safe this Christmas.
With the festive season upon us, school holidays beginning, and after a particularly challenging couple of years, Victorians will be more eager than ever to get out and about.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said, “Christmas is a great opportunity to travel and see family and friends, but all Victorians have to do their bit and drive safely on our roads – it only takes one bad decision to turn the holiday season into tragedy.”
Victoria Police has also bolstered its road policing capabilities for the operation, which runs from Friday 17 December to Sunday 26 December 2021.
Police from state and local road policing units, general duties and other operational policing units will be targeting driving offences across metropolitan and regional Victoria to take dangerous drivers off the road and save lives.
During last year’s Operation Roadwise, 10 people lost their lives on our roads and Victoria Police detected more than 14,216 traffic offences, including 6,201 speeding offences and a further 463 people caught drink driving and 535 people caught with drugs in their system.
“Operation Roadwise will see more police on our roads, making sure every motorist is doing the right thing, and holding those who don’t follow the rules to account.”
The launch also comes as a timely reminder to all road users to take care, as the state’s road toll sits at 226 this year, compared to 198 for the same time last year.
Despite lockdowns restricting travel for large parts of the year, Victoria has already surpassed the number of lives lost on the roads in 2020 when 211 deaths were recorded.
In honour of these lives, a Christmas tree with baubles representing each of the lives lost on our roads this year is now up at the Victoria Police headquarters – a reminder that lives lost on our roads is not about statistics, it’s about real families who have experienced the trauma of losing a loved one.
Drivers are reminded not to drink or take drugs if they’re planning to drive, and to use simple strategies that can reduce risks on the road, including driver reviver strategies to avoid fatigue, staying off mobile phones while driving, and being alert on unfamiliar roads.
“We want to see all Victorians making smart choices behind the wheel this festive season and getting home safely. If you speed, use your phone or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will be caught.”
