Victorians on notice following first weekend of police road safety operation

Victoria Police road safety effort Operation Compass commenced over the Easter long weekend. 253041_15

More than one-third of infringements issued in the first five days of Victoria Police’s Operation Compass were for speeding offences.

Almost 8000 offences were detected in the

statewide road policing operation which begun on Thursday 13 April and continued across the Easter long weekend, historically a high-risk period on Victorian roads.

The Casey Police Service Area detected 124 offences over the long weekend, including 42 speeding offences, seven drink drivers, nine drug drivers, 11 disqualified drivers, six unlicensed drivers, 26 unregistered vehicles, nine mobile phone offences, five seatbelt offences, five disobey signs/signals and made four impoundments.

Across the state, one in every 326 motorists was caught drink driving, with police conducting 101,917 preliminary breath tests over the operation’s first five days.

Police detected 579 unauthorised drivers for being disqualified and unlicensed, and a further 837 for driving unregistered vehicles.

Two lives were lost on Victorian roads over the weekend, with fatal collisions in Elwood on Thursday 14 April and Greenwald in the state’s far southwest on Monday 18 April, bringing this year’s total to 78.

“Despite our best efforts, we still sadly saw two lives lost on Victorian roads over the weekend and police caught thousands of motorists engaging in unacceptable behaviour, putting themselves and others at risk,” Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing Glenn Weir said.

“Operation Compass will continue this week, and while police will again be going all-out to reduce road trauma, we are pleading with motorists to please be patient and stay alert when travelling and returning home from holidays“.

Police are anticipating another busy period on the roads as the Anzac Day public holiday and end of Victorian school holidays coincide.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.