Police detected 120 traffic offences across Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay during an 18-day road safety operation during the Christmas and New Year period.
Operation Roadwise, which ran from December 15 to January 1, resulted in a high police presence on major arterial roads and highways across Victoria in an effort to reduce road trauma.
More than 19,000 traffic offences were recorded in the period, with a major focus on impaired driving.
Maribyrnong residents were seemingly well behaved, as police detected just 11 traffic offences, including one offence of disobeying signs/signals, two unlicensed drivers, four unregistered vehicles, one drink driver, two disqualified drivers, and one cyclist offence.
In Hobsons Bay, police detected a total of 109 traffic offences, including 12 speeding offences, 25 mobile phone offences, four offences of disobeying signs-signals, 11 unlicensed drivers, 23 unregistered vehicles, seven drink drivers, 12 disqualified drivers, five seatbelt offences, nine impoundments, and three cyclist offences.
There were 16 lives lost on Victorian roads during the operation, with a total of 296 lives lost in 2023, the highest number of annual fatalities in 15 years since 2008.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police will be doing all it can to ensure a safer year on the roads for Victorians.
“While the majority of road users have acted responsibly over the Christmas and New Year period, the fact we’ve detected over 19,000 offences in 18 days remains totally unacceptable,” he said.
“We’ve seen people making deliberate and conscious decisions that significantly increases the likelihood of road trauma, putting themselves and other road users at risk.
With many Victorians expected to take extended holidays over the January period, police are warning motorists not to be complacent on the roads.
“We will continue to have a major focus on impaired drivers in 2024, so expect to be tested and face the consequences when you’re caught – we make no apologies for this,” Commissioner Weir said.
“As we enter a new year, we’re appealing to motorists to reflect on their habits behind the wheel, take responsibility for their actions and prioritise their safety, as well as the safety of their passengers and all other road users.”
