More than 5000 offences were detected by Victoria Police during Operation Furlong over the Melbourne Cup long weekend, despite widespread wet weather.
The five-day, statewide road policing operation saw police targeting high-risk driving behaviour, with a particular focus on speeding, impaired driving, and distraction.
One in every 295 motorists tested were detected for drink driving offences, which is a significant increase on last month’s strike rate over the AFL Grand Final long weekend where one in every 536 motorists were detected for drink driving.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing, Justin Goldsmith called the strike rate of drink drivers “extremely concerning”.
“As we approach the festive time of the year, we know social events synonymous with alcohol and drug consumption become more frequent,” Mr Goldsmith said.
“With so many alternative transport options available, there is absolutely no excuse for drink and drug driving.
“We will be focusing our efforts on widespread alcohol and drug testing as we head towards the end of the year, so you can be confident you will be tested and caught, even if you’re only a little bit over the limit.”
In the Casey Police Service Area, officers caught 13 drink drivers, five drug drivers and one combination drug and drink driver.
Operation Furlong also picked up 10 disqualified drivers in Casey, as well as seven unlicensed drivers, 22 speeding offences, 17 unregistered drivers and made seven impoundments.
Five Casey drivers were done for disobeying signs and signals, two were caught without a seatbelt and one driver was fined for using their mobile phone while driving.
Across the state, a total of 5433 traffic offences were detected during the operation, with almost 40 per cent of those for speeding.
There were also 232 mobile phone offences detected, and automatic numberplate recognition technology caught 433 motorists for driving whilst disqualified, suspended or unlicenced.
Three lives were lost on Victorian roads during the long weekend operation, including two motorcyclist fatalities in Wandong on Friday and Woodend on Saturday, and a 24-year-old male driver in Bundoora on Monday, bringing the total number of lives lost to 210 – 26 higher than last year and well above the five-year average of 192.
Operation Furlong was conducted from 12:01am Friday 28 October to 11:59pm Tuesday 1 November 2022.
