POLICE have issued a stern warning to unauthorised drivers thinking about getting behind the wheel this Australia Day long weekend – you will be caught.
Operation Amity will see police across the state utilising automatic number plate recognition technology (ANPR) to detect and remove drivers and motorcyclists who are unlicenced, suspended and disqualified.
With all Victoria Police highway patrol vehicles fitted with the technology, as well as additional police vehicles in regional and specialist areas as part of an ongoing trial, there are now more ANPR-fitted police vehicles on Victorian roads than ever before.
It is estimated that ANPR can scan up to 76 million number plates each year – or 8,675 number plates an hour.
During a recent statewide road policing operation, ANPR helped police detect 1021 motorists who should not be on the roads, 33 per cent more than the previous year.
It comes as unauthorised drivers were involved in 31 fatal collisions last year, a 29 per cent increase on the previous year.
Unauthorised drivers are considered high-risk on the roads due to the often recidivist nature of their offending – unlicenced drivers have not undertaken the necessary training to safely operate a vehicle, whilst drivers who are suspended or disqualified have committed prior offences, predominately speeding, drink or drug driving, or a combination.
Police will utilise all ANPR-fitted highway patrol vehicles as part of Operation Amity, a statewide road policing effort launching this week to coincide with the high-risk Australia Day period.
The five-day operation will see police highly visible and enforcing to reduce road trauma across the unofficial long weekend, with a focus on major arterials, coastal holiday hotspots, and travel on rural roads.
It comes as 24 lives have been lost on Victorian roads in the first 23 days of the year, double the five-year average of 12, with three quarters of fatalities occurring on rural roads this year.
Police will be targeting speeding motorists and conducting widespread alcohol and drug testing after detecting 4,803 speeding offences and 886 drug and alcohol offences during a recent Christmas 12-day road safety blitz.
Operation Amity commences at 12:01am on Wednesday, January 25, and concludes at 23:59pm on Sunday, January 29.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
The State Government is also urging road users to take care over the holiday period.
According to the government, regional roads have sadly seen the majority of trauma this year with 18 lives lost, compared with 10 at the same time last year, while new data shows an alarming number of people dying are not wearing seatbelts.
Last year, 21 drivers and passengers died unbuckled in Victoria – representing 17 per cent of all vehicle occupant deaths for the year, while more than 75 per cent of those occurred on regional roads.
The problem is more common amongst men, who account for 95 per cent of all drivers and passengers who lost their lives on our roads last year where it was clear a seatbelt wasn’t worn.
More than 50 years since seatbelts were mandated in Victoria, the basic safety message that buckling up could save your life seemingly isn’t getting through to some.
With Australia Day on Thursday, and school holidays concluding this week, it is expected to be a busy period on the roads and motorists are being urged to take the time to plan ahead – ensure you are well rested, leave plenty of time to get to your destination, and have alternative transport plans when drinking alcohol.
The Transport Accident Commission is continuing to target risky driving with its campaign, The Lucky Ones Get Caught, remaining highly visible across the state and supporting Victoria Police’s widespread enforcement efforts.
To encourage travellers to take regular breaks from driving, Driver Reviver Australia will have the support of VICSES and Lions Club volunteers operating rest stops across the state where motorists can take a break, stretch their legs and change drivers if possible.
