Victoria Police has announced Operation Roadwise will kick off across the state on Friday, December 13th and will run for an extended 20-day period that will see police highly visible across Victoria’s major roads and arterials.
The focus of the operation will be on impaired driving over the Christmas period, and police will be conducting widespread drug and alcohol testing every day throughout the operation.
Data shows December is the worst month of the year for drink driving in Victoria, with the highest number of drink driving detections and most collisions where the driver was over the blood alcohol limit occurring during the month.
Last year, police conducted more than 300,000 preliminary breath tests and almost 9000 roadside drug tests in Operation Roadwise.
Police will also be visible on the state’s regional roads and holiday hotspots during the operation, as Boxing Day is one of the busiest days for travel across the state.
Police issued over 19,000 traffic infringements during Operation Roadwise last year, 7631 of which were speeding offences.
The operation will commence at 00:01 hours on Friday, December 13th and conclude at 23:59 hours on Wednesday, January 1st.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir says all motorists should expect to be tested anywhere in the state over the course of the operation.
“December is a high-risk period on our roads – we know there is a significant risk associated with impaired driving, and we also see an influx of traffic as people head on holidays to regional areas,” Weir says.
“There will be a significant focus on impaired drivers so motorists should expect to be tested anywhere, any time and be prepared to face the consequences if you’re caught over the limit.
“As we head towards the end of the year, we’re urging everyone to make road safety a priority.
“The last place you want to end up this Christmas is in a hospital, or worse, as a result of road trauma.
“It’s been another devastating year on our roads, and we make no apologies for doing all we can to prevent further serious injuries and deaths.”
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