POLICE will be out in force across the state this weekend, targeting drink-drivers in an effort to reduce road trauma.
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All policing units will be carrying out random breath tests as part of Operation Regal, which runs from Friday, June 9 to Monday, June 12.
Acting Senior Sergeant Mick McCrann said there would be a highly visible police presence across the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
“While central Victorian motorists are used to the fact that we have high-alcohol testing times, we need to put it into context that four people died on our roads over the Queen’s Birthday weekend last year,” he said.
“By targeting drink-driving hopefully we reduce the incidence of fatal collisions and road trauma.”
Acting Senior Sergeant McCrann said fatigue was often an issue on long weekends with people travelling long distances.
“The consumption of alcohol prior to driving a motor vehicle puts everybody at risk,” the Bendigo Highway Patrol officer said.
“We just ask people to make the right choices - they already know what the right thing is.”
Acting Senior Sergeant McCrann urged drivers to manage their fatigue, plan their trips, consider the higher volume of traffic and to not drink-drive.
Police are also targeting drivers who fail to stop or obey traffic signals and signs during phase two of Operation Millet.
“A significant portion of our injury-collisions within the Bendigo CBD are drivers failing to give way or stop at intersections, whether that is traffic lights signs or turning right in front of oncoming vehicles,” Acting Senior Sergeant McCrann said.
“Those causations are very, very dominant in our serious injury collisions.”