After a ‘horror year’ on Victorian roads with the annual road toll surging to a 15-year high, police are pleading with road users to be extra cautious over the Christmas period.
The Transport Accident Commission reported 283 lives lost in 2023 as of December 18 – 51 more people than last year.
Of the fatalities, 167 were in regional Victoria, 75 per cent of which occurred in 100 kilometre per hour speed zones.
As of mid-December, four lives were lost in the Mitchell Shire, including three drivers killed on the Northern Highway between Kilmore and Heathcote.
Passenger deaths more than doubled in Victoria since last year from 25 in 2022 to 58 as of mid-December.
Seymour Highway Patrol Sargeant Graeme Callaghan said the statistics were ‘concerning at a local level’.
“We’re doing everything we can to prevent trauma on the roads,” he said.
“It is a concern at this particular time of the year, especially when we’re coming into the Christmas period.”
The annual police Christmas blitz, Operation Roadwise, will this year be six days longer than last year’s operation, from December 15 to New Year’s Day.
The operation will enforce a highly visible police presence on roads, with alcohol and drug testing a major focus.
Police data showed an increase this month in drivers recording low-range drink driving readings, between 0.05 and 0.069 blood alcohol – likely due to drivers miscalculating their intake.
Last year, police conducted more than 200,000 preliminary breath tests and more than 5100 drug tests, with thousands more anticipated for this year.
Sgt Callaghan said drivers should always plan their night out and remain vigilant while driving to and from end-of-year social events.
“The last thing we want to do is knock on the door and say ‘unfortunately someone’s been killed or seriously injured’,” he said.
“[Police] are putting their best effort into making everyone’s holiday season safe and that they get to their holiday destination safely.”
Police will also prioritise investigating the roadworthiness of vehicles, including towed vehicles, and warn all motorists to expect to be pulled up this festive season.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said those ignoring road rules would be up for a ‘costly Christmas’, with common penalties including:
Speeding by more than 10m/h but less than 15km/h – $385 and three demerit points;
Failing to wear a seatbelt – $385 and three demerit points;
Failing to obey traffic light – $481 and three demerit points;
Using mobile phone or device while driving – $577 and four demerit points.
Industrial action
Victoria Police will continue undertaking industrial action in pursuit of pay increases and better working conditions throughout Operation Roadwise, unless adequate negotiations occur.
A total of 17,500 unionised police officers commenced the strike on December 3 after negotiations with Victoria Police for a ‘fair and equitable’ enterprise agreement failed.
The previous agreement expired on November 30.
Police are demanding a four per cent pay rise and nine-hour shifts to form as part of the new agreement.
Phase one of the industrial action, which started on December 3, includes officers undertaking 19 protected industrial action measures, such as warning motorists of speed and red light cameras with flashing lights to decrease revenue generated through fines for the State Government.
Police have also refused to work overtime without payment and plastered their police vehicles in messaging including ‘Free labour thanks to Labor’ and ‘Made for more. Paid for less’.
Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said the union members were overworked and undervalued.
“The government has shown our members incredible disrespect during these negotiations by leaving them hanging after they’ve endured the toughest four years in the history of policing in Victoria,” he said.
“If the government wants to attack the bottom lines of my members’ household, we’ll attack theirs.”
The Fair Work Commission approved the union to escalate industrial action last week.
If members vote to approve escalation, phase two will start after the conclusion of Operation Roadwise and will result in police refusing to issue speeding fines.
The union has also raised concerns regarding the decrease in opening hours at police stations, including at Epping Police Station, which will move from 24-hour to eight-hour reception.
Motorcyclist’s long road to recovery, see here.
Every year more people get a licence, so more people are on the road. Perhaps with most people getting an experimental injection which has caused many injuries and deaths is also be a contributing factor to the toll. Most people drive to the safe road conditions and are not reckless.