Police won't take merry approach on holiday roads

LOCAL police are calling on residents to act responsibly when taking to the roads this festive season, with the high-risk Christmas period already underway. As of Monday some 283 lives have already been lost on Victorian roads this year, surpassing the 241 lives cut short in crashes for all of 2022, and with low range drink driving readings (.05 to .069) increasing by four per cent on the typical monthly average, officers are urging residents not to risk driving alcohol-affected during the holiday season. Popular holiday hotspots across the North East will be targeted as part of police’s ‘Operation Roadwise’, an 18-day initiative which will extend into the New Year period to deter unsafe behaviours on roads across Victoria. The initiative officially commenced last Friday, and will continue until 11.59pm on January 1. As part of the operation, motorists are being urged to entirely separate drinking and driving, with the recent increase in low-level drink driving readings believed to suggest drivers are prepared to drink at end-of-year social functions before getting behind the wheel. ‘Low range’ drink driving offending carries a $577 fine and a six month driving ban for those under 26 years old, while those fully licenced and above 26 will be sidelined for three months. Road policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said those who choose to flout the road rules would be up for a costly Christmas, with penalties in the hundreds of dollars also applicable for those speeding by more than 10kph, failing to wear a seatbelt, failing to obey traffic lights or using a mobile device while driving. “We’re urging everyone to make road safety a priority during the festive period – the last place you want to end up this Christmas is in a hospital, or worse, as a result of road trauma,” he said. “December is particularly high-risk on our roads – we tend to see an increase in social functions and events that increases the likelihood of impaired driving, as well as increased traffic as people head away to regional areas. “We will be focused heavily on impaired drivers, so expect to be tested, and be prepared to face the consequences if you’re caught over the limit – the penalties are significant, and we make no apologies for enforcing the rules – it could save someone’s life. “It’s been a horror year on our roads and we will be doing all we can to stop this needless loss of life.”

Police won't take merry approach on holiday roads

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