Operation Roadwise, which ran from 12:01am on Friday, December 15 to 11:59pm on Monday, January 1, saw police highly visible on major arterial roads and highways across Victoria with the aim of reducing road trauma.
Along with 276 speeding offences, police in the area dealt with 15 drink drivers, eight drug drivers, two combined drink/drug drivers, 15 disqualified drivers and 11 unlicensed drivers.
There were 11 disobeying signs/signals offences and 11 seatbelt offences, while three mobile offences were also committed.
Fourteen vehicles were impounded.
Victoria Police detected 19,386 offences during the operation’s 18-day period.
There were 16 lives lost on Victorian roads between December 15 and January 1.
Victorian road policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said the number of offences committed was appalling.
“While the majority of road users have acted responsibly over the Christmas and new year period, the fact we’ve detected over 19,000 offences in 18 days remains totally unacceptable,” he said.
“We’ve seen people making deliberate and conscious decisions that significantly increase the likelihood of road trauma, putting themselves and other road users at risk.”
Mr Weir has promised that Victoria Police will be doing all possible to prevent a repeat of the devastating road fatality statistics seen in 2023.
“We will continue to have a major focus on impaired drivers in 2024, so expect to be tested and face the consequences when you’re caught — we make no apologies for this,” he said.
“As we enter a new year, we’re appealing to motorists to reflect on their habits behind the wheel, take responsibility for their actions and prioritise their safety, as well as the safety of their passengers and all other road users.”
A total of 296 lives were lost in 2023, the highest number of annual fatalities since 2008.
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