Zoe Moffatt
Victoria police detected 94 traffic offences in Hume and Macedon Ranges over the King’s Birthday long weekend as part of Operation Regal.
The four day road policing operation saw police targeting high-risk driving behaviour across the state from 12.01 am June 9 to 11.59 pm June 12, in an effort to drive down road trauma.
In the Macedon Ranges, police detected 48 speeding offences, seven unregistered vehicles, two drink driving offences, two disqualified drivers and five unlicenced drivers.
In Hume, there were 12 speeding offences, four unregistered vehicles, one drink driving offence, two unlicenced drivers, 10 offences of disobeying signs/signals and one mobile phone offence.
Across the state 6546 offences were detected, which is a 15 per cent increase from last year.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Martin O’Brien said the increase in offences detected was disappointing.
“Operation Regal saw an increase in the number of offences detected [and] is really disappointing,” he said.
“It indicates that many motorists are continuing to take risks on our roads… It only takes one poor decision and a split second to cause a tragedy.”
Two fatalities occurred over the weekend in separate collisions in Toombon and Reservoir, and police said this follows a shocking period which has recorded the highest number of lives lost on Victorian roads in 16 years.
Acting Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said police saw an increase in collisions involving vehicles on mountain roads or four-wheel-drive tracks.
“Unfortunately, one of these has resulted in a fatality, whilst there were several other near misses police responded to,” he said.
“The wintery weather can create dangerous conditions… and if you’re unfamiliar with these roads or inexperienced driving them, it can be a recipe for disaster.
“We would advise motorists to monitor the conditions and avoid travelling on these roads if you’re unequipped or it is unsafe to do so.”
The fatalities from the weekend bring the total number of lives lost on Victorian roads in 2023 to 143, which is up 35 per cent for the same time last year.
Police said they will continue to enforce against those who engage in risky driving behaviour.
