Drugs and alcohol will be a focus for police this Easter as they mount a statewide operation on the roads.
The force’s anywhere, anytime enforcement approach will continue over the high-risk period.
Victoria Police road policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said this operation will see police out in force across the state.
“That will include local highway patrol units, the State Highway Patrol, solo units and our drug and alcohol bus fleet,” he said.
“It’s also important to remember every police car is a booze bus and drivers can be breath tested at any time.
“We want everyone to survive this Easter and will be doing all we can to make sure that happens.”
The family of a 23-year-old man tragically killed when the car he was a passenger in crashed into a tree will today join police in launching the Easter effort.
A drink-driving P-plater was behind the wheel when the fatal collision occurred.
Police intelligence shows a recent a spike in drivers getting behind the wheel when they’re drug or alcohol affected.
During a two-night police operation on the Monash Freeway in February one in 95 drivers tested had drugs or illegal levels of alcohol in their system.
The average usually sits at around one in 400.
Similarly a two-night operation on EastLink this month saw one in every 148 drivers tested returning a positive drug or illegal alcohol reading.
As Victoria Police launches Operation Nexus, to run from Thursday to Easter Monday, it’s warning motorists that officers could be anywhere at any time.
Major arterials and roads leading to regional Victoria and holiday hotspots will be key areas of enforcement.
The effort will include marked and unmarked vehicles as well as the force’s booze and drug bus fleet.
In addition to impairment, speed, fatigue, distraction and seatbelt compliance will be in the sights of police.
Statewide 67 lives have been lost this year compared with 76 last year.
Deaths on rural roads represent more than half of this year’s fatalities.
A total 13 lives have been lost over Easter in the last six years.
Operation Nexus runs from 12.01am on Thursday 28 March to 11.59pm on Monday 1 April.
