Victoria Police’s Operation Regal starts Friday, with a warning to drivers to be especially cautious after lunch.
Data shows that afternoons are a high-risk time for drivers in winter. A recent analysis reveals that over 40 per cent of injury-causing collisions between June and August occur between noon and 6pm.
Police are urging drivers to be extra careful because shorter days and winter weather make it harder to see the road.
Operation Regal is a statewide effort over the King’s Birthday long weekend to reduce road accidents.
Victoria Police data from the past five years indicates that an average of 43 per cent of winter collisions occur between noon and 6pm.
About 7800 injury collisions were recorded during this period from 2019 to 2023.
Fridays between noon and 6pm were identified as the most dangerous time statewide during winter, with around 1200 injury collisions and 21 fatal collisions recorded over the five years.
In regional areas, injury collisions most commonly occur on Saturdays between noon and 6pm during the winter months.
With Victoria’s snow season starting this weekend, police will be visible and enforcing rules on major roads leading to alpine areas.
If you’re going to the snow, check conditions before you travel and ensure you have and use the required wheel chains.
With many events and festivals this weekend, police are reminding drivers not to drive under the influence. There will be widespread drug and alcohol testing.
Last year, police issued more than 6500 infringements during Operation Regal, detecting 2652 motorists speeding, 366 for drink and drug driving offences and 224 using their mobile phones while driving.
Road policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir stressed the importance of being careful.
“This analysis should serve as a reminder to all motorists heading into this long weekend to take extra care, particularly if the weather is challenging, and you have to factor in poor visibility or conditions like rain, ice or snow.”
Across the border, the NSW Police Force has joined with Transport NSW to launch a police operation to target excessive speed, alcohol and drug driving, fatigue and distracted driving to prevent road trauma over the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Double demerit points will apply for the duration of Operation King’s Birthday 2024.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, together with local police, will patrol roads across the state, targeting traffic offences with the aim of preventing injury and death.
The Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, said police would continue to target behaviour that endangered lives on NSW roads.
“This coming weekend is traditionally one of the busiest on our roads which causes us great concern,’’ he said.
“Just in the past few weeks alone we have seen multiple fatal crashes on our roads. This should not be acceptable to us as a community.”
Members of the public are urged to report motorists engaged in dangerous driving to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Both operations run from 12.01am Friday, June 7, to 11.59pm Monday, June 10.
17°C