Increased police patrols
Local police are sending a strong message to local motorists to remind them they will be out and about on main roads and back roads over the next week during festive celebrations.
With drink driving and fatigue major contributors to road trauma, police will boost its presence on local roads for the Christmas and New Year period.
Additional resources also will be brought in to assist with traffic and other policing matters between Friday and Tuesday for the Beyond The Valley music festival at Lardner Park.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville last week joined Victoria Police to launch the 24-day Operation Roadwise campaign that will run across the state until January 6.
The names and ages of 200 people killed on Victorian roads have been inscribed on baubles and placed on the Victoria Police lives lost Christmas tree.
This is a timely reminder to Victorians that there are real people behind the statistics and road trauma can happen to anyone.
Operation Roadwise will see police out in force targeting dangerous driving, drug and drink driving, and irresponsible behaviour on local roads.
Baw Baw Highway Patrol sergeant Andrew Milbourne said no local road will be exempt from a police presence.
He said police would use their new smaller alcohol and drug test buses to target people to and from celebrations in suburban streets and back roads.
Highway patrol police also will be carrying out drug testing.
All road users will be targeted, including heavy vehicles, light trucks, cars, motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians.
Sgt Milbourne said police encouraged drivers to plan ahead. He said this included planning fatigue over long trips and planning how they get home after festive celebrations.
“If you are going out to have a drink, make plans early so you know how you will get home.
“We will have as many units out on the road as possible.
“There will be an increased presence with our drug and booze bus.
Sgt Milbourne said they also would have satellite cars working around the area. “So if drivers try to avoid the booze bus they could get picked up anyway.”
“Ideally we would like no drink or drug driving,” he said.
Sgt Milbourne said fatigue was a concern this time of year because people were often rushing to get to places or travelling long distances.
“There are lots of people travelling at this time of year and the increase in traffic leads to increased risk taking behaviour which we want to discourage,” he said.
Drivers are encouraged to reduce their risks on the road by ensuring their vehicle is roadworthy, practising stop-revive-survive strategies, staying off their mobile phones and being alert on unfamiliar roads.