By Ashok Verma
MOTORISTS be warned: Concerned over the high number of speeding offences detected during the Australia Day long weekend blitz, police will be out in force with their ‘digital guns’ to strengthen vigils around Mitchell Shire roads to clamp down on offenders.
One drink driver with an alleged alcohol reading above the limit was caught during the long weekend police Operation Amity in the Mitchell Police Service Area.
Also nabbed during the operation were 26 drivers from the Mitchell Shire PSA over speeding offences, with three of them allegedly exceeding the speed limit by 25km/h or more. The biggest number – 22 – was those allegedly exceeding the speed limit between 10km/h and 25km/h. One was caught for exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h or less.
Operation Amity ran from 12.01am on Friday, January 23, to 11.59pm on Monday, January 26.
With two fatalities over the weekend, the total number of lives lost on Victorian roads rose to 19 in 2026 so far, compared to 29 at the same time last year.
More than 5500 offences were recorded by Victoria Police during the four-day statewide operation over the long weekend.
In the Mitchell Shire area local police specifically monitored the Hume Freeway, Northern Highway, and other local roads with a focus on holiday makers returning home.
Mitchell Local Area Commander Acting Inspector Darron Huffer said through Operation Amity, local police noted a concerning trend of high-risk behaviours, including speed and alcohol, despite the heavy police presence over the long weekend.
“Given that the vast majority of serious injury collisions occur on rural roads, local patrols were disturbed with this high-risk driving,” Commander Huffer said.
He said because of the concerning road behaviour seen over Op Amity local police will not be scaling back. Instead, they will maintain a visible focus on speed with Operation Enforce and will have an “anywhere, anytime” approach to mobile testing units on the Hume and Northern Corridors as well as the region’s vast backroads.
Starting last week, there will be a visible presence within 40km/h zones around the local schools to protect students returning to class.
During Operation Amity in Mitchell PSA, police caught one disqualified driver, three unlicensed drivers, two for disobeying signs/signals, one for seatbelt offence and five driving unregistered vehicles.
Across the state, Victoria Police said 214 drink driving offences were detected from 89,835 preliminary breath tests.
A total of 154 drug driving offences were recorded from 2441 roadside drug tests.
Mitchell Local Area Commander Acting Inspector Darron Huffer has outlined tough police actions in 2026 to cut down road offences and also handed general advice to motorists.
He said the police focus will be on maintaining high visibility across the state’s roads to deter and detect offending.
“It’s up to all of us to ensure that road safety remains paramount in the year ahead,’’ Commander Huffer said.
In a message to the regional drivers, he said: “As we head into 2026, we are urging everyone to take this opportunity to really consider your behaviour on the roads and what you can do to contribute to making our roads safe.”
He said this could be done by:
Slowing down and travelling at the speed limit. Not driving the influence of alcohol and drugs. Avoiding distractions like mobile phones; and by Ensuring everyone is wearing a properly fitted seatbelt, and most importantly – being courteous to other road users.
Commander Huffer said: “We’ll continue to work with our road safety partners to drive down road trauma.”
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said: “We continue to see far too many people making poor choices and opting to drink or take drugs and then drive”.
“If you think you can drink or take drugs and drive – think again.
“With warm weather set to continue, police will continue to be out conducting alcohol and drug testing anywhere, anytime, and motorists should expect to be tested – and you will be caught.
“With five lives lost in four days (recently), this should be a wake-up call to all motorists that we cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to road safety – it must remain a priority.”
