Analysis of collision data has uncovered impaired drivers with passengers on board were involved in 385 collisions causing injury and a further 18 causing death over the past two years.
The figures have prompted an urgent warning from police heading into Easter, with passengers being urged to call out the behaviour and refuse to get into a vehicle when the driver is impaired.
It comes as a major road policing operation starts from Thursday, April 17, with Operation Compass to see police highly visible across the state’s roads, coinciding with the high-risk Easter and Anzac Day periods in Victoria.
The consecutive long weekends this year will see police launch an extended 10-day statewide blitz.
Police data has revealed a total of 989 people were impacted by collisions in 2023 and 2024 where the driver was impaired and carrying passengers in the vehicle, with 403 drivers and 586 passengers.
Young drivers aged 18-24 years made up the largest number of impaired drivers carrying passengers, with more than 32 per cent, followed by those aged 30-39 years making up a further 20 per cent.
More than 30 per cent of passengers in collisions where the driver was impaired were also aged 18-24.
Almost a quarter of passengers in collisions where the driver was impaired were aged 17 and under.
Males made up 73 per cent of impaired drivers.
Of the 403 impaired drivers, 46 per cent were drink driving, 43 per cent were drug driving and 11 per cent were impaired by both alcohol and drugs.
As Operation Compass starts, Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir is not only discouraging drivers from getting behind the wheel while impaired, but also reminding passengers of their responsibility to speak up and call out the behaviour, before it’s too late.
“The worst thing you can do as a passenger is be a bystander and think that safety is not your responsibility,” Asst Commissioner Weir said.
“Passengers have the power to be influencers on your roads, so if someone you know is thinking of getting behind the wheel drunk or on drugs, the best thing you can do is call it out — before it’s too late.”
Over last year’s Easter and Anzac Day holiday periods, police conducted more than 246,000 preliminary breath tests and more than 5000 roadside drug tests, with 399 drink drivers and 280 drug drivers caught.
In addition to impairment, speed, fatigue, distraction and seatbelt compliance will be in the sights of police during the operation.
Operation Compass starts at 12.01am on Thursday, April 17, and will run until 11.59pm on Sunday, April 27.
“At the end of the day, we just want everyone to make it home safely to their families this Easter, and we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure that happens,” Asst Commissioner Weir said.
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