LONG WEEKEND WARNING

POLICE CRACKDOWN:

POLICE will be out in force across the Queen’s Birthday long weekend as part of Operation Regal, a four-day operation targeting high-risk driving behaviour on Victorian roads.

The statewide operation will run from Friday to Monday and will be held in conjunction with patrols to stop Melburnians entering regional Victoria following the latest coronavirus outbreak.

Geelong Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Fletcher Pearson said drivers should expect to see a bolstered police presence across the region.

“Within Geelong and surrounding areas, the public will see a significant increase of police units out and about conducting speed checks and intercepting drivers for alcohol and drug checks,” Sergeant Pearson said.

“If you’re from metropolitan Melbourne and you decide to try you luck and head to regional Geelong and surrounds, you will be pulled over and you will be fined and or taken to court. Please continue doing the correct things to help the state of Victoria get through this latest tough period.”

Sergeant Pearson said police would be conducting alcohol and drug testing at every opportunity.

He said police would be patrolling in marked and unmarked vehicles throughout the region.

“If pulled over by police, expect to be alcohol and drug tested. Our continued aim for the Greater Geelong area is to ensure that our roads are safe,” he said.

“This weekend, please don’t make an irresponsible decision behind the wheel that results in you or those around you becoming another unnecessary statistic.

“Please take care and drive safe.”

To date, 94 people have died on Victorian roads this year with around half of fatalities in regional Victoria.

Over the past five Queen’s Birthday long weekends, there have been 17 lives lost on the state’s roads and a further 980 people injured. A total of 48,811 traffic and criminal offences have been detected, including 25,719 for speeding.

With over 588,000 alcohol and drugs tests conducted over five previous Queen’s Birthday operations, police have issued a stern warning to motorists considering drinking or taking drugs and driving this long weekend – you will get caught.

Operation Regal will involve personnel from all local road policing units, general duties, and other operational policing units, with targeted deployment of mobile speed cameras.

IF PULLED OVER BY POLICE, EXPECT TO BE ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTED.