Victoria Police assistant commissioner road policing Glenn Weir has praised Victorians who engaged in “sensible driving behaviour” during the month of March after the state recorded the month’s lowest number of lives lost on record.
There were 18 lives lost on Victorian roads last month, down from 25 in March 2021.
The 10-year average for lives lost in March is 23.4.
Despite the reduction in fatalities, assistant commissioner Weir said just one life lost is still too many.
“Sadly though, there were still 18 lives lost in March, and whilst it’s been our lowest March on record, it’s apparent there are still too many deaths on our roads,” assistant commissioner Weir said.
“The work doesn’t stop here – April is one of our busiest months with school holidays and two major long weekends just around the corner, so police will again be out in high numbers to deter and detect risky driving.
“Now is not the time to be complacent – enjoy this upcoming period but please, slow down, take regular breaks on long trips and let’s ensure we all reach our destinations safely.”
Victoria Police launched Operation Engage to drive down road trauma during March, which typically experiences the highest number of fatalities on average.
Operation Engage saw motorists targeted in high-risk locations across the state, with 1175 offences detected by police – more than 25 per cent for speeding.
There were 72 motorists nabbed for alcohol and drug related offences, with police conducting 11,029 tests throughout the month.
Police also caught 64 disqualified/unlicenced drivers, detected 122 unregistered vehicles, issued 89 mobile phone infringements, and fined 37 people for not wearing a seatbelt.
Operation Engage ran in conjunction with Operation Arid, a four-day statewide road policing initiative that coincided with the Labour Day long weekend in March, with a further 7193 offences detected, and an additional 95,174 alcohol and drug tests conducted.
Police are urging motorists not to be complacent about road safety, with April set to be a busy period on roads as the Victorian school holidays, Easter long weekend and Anzac Day public holiday all fall within the month.
Another statewide road policing operation will take place next week to coincide with Easter, which will extend into the Anzac Day public holiday the following weekend.
There will be a focus on regional travel, with more than 60 per cent of this year’s fatalities occurring on rural roads.
There have been 70 lives lost to date in 2022, six higher than 2021 (64).
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
