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Delivering Safer Roads: Rollout Of Alcohol And Drug Testing Fleet Complete

06 March 2019

Victoria Police’s efforts to keep our roads safe over the Labour Day long weekend will be boosted by the last of 10 new state-of-the art alcohol and drug testing vehicles hitting the road.

The force’s ageing fleet has been replaced following a $15 million investment by the Andrews Labor Government, giving police greater flexibility and capacity in targeting offenders on our roads.

The new fleet will allow Victoria Police to efficiently target backstreets and locations across regional Victoria, where many road fatalities have already occurred this year.

Victoria Police’s long weekend road safety blitz, Operation Arid, will also see a strong focus on motorcycle safety, with highway police officers deployed in on-and-off road motorcycles.

17 motorcyclists have lost their lives this year, compared to 9 at the same time in 2017.

Other major factors of road trauma including speed, fatigue, distraction and seat belt compliance will continue to be targeted, with all available resources deployed across Victoria.

Last year, six people lost their lives on the road over the Labour Day long weekend - two motorcyclists, two passengers and two drivers.

Police detected more than 5600 offences during the 2018 operation, including more than 3000 speeding offences and 441 mobile phone offences.

More than 430 disqualified or unlicensed drivers were taken off the roads, while 59 cars, trucks and motorcycles were also impounded.

Operation Arid runs from 12.01am on Friday 8 March until 11.59pm on Monday 11 March.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville

“We don’t want to see a repeat of last year’s long weekend where six people lost their lives and more than 5600 offences were detected. If you’re doing the wrong thing this Labor Day long weekend, you will be caught.”

“This new fleet of vehicles gives our police the tools they need to keep our roads and communities safe.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford

“One life lost on our roads is one too many – I’m urging all Victorians to be responsible this long weekend and take care on our roads.”

“Drug driving continues to be a major contributor to deaths and road trauma in Victoria, and this new fleet will help police get more drug-affected drivers off our roads.

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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