Police are warning motorists ahead of Easter that their chances of being detected breaking the road rules have drastically increased, with a recent uplift in road policing enforcement set to continue this weekend.
There was a 30 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of infringements issued over last month's statewide road policing blitz over Labour Day long weekend, with police detecting 6,442 offences over four-days.
Police also recorded a 26 per cent increase in patrol hours for the operation, compared to the same period the previous year.
It comes as another major road policing operation gets underway from tomorrow, with Operation Nexus to see police highly visible across the state's roads, coinciding with the Easter long weekend in Victoria.
The operation will see every available resource, from general duties to highway patrol and specialist road policing units deployed over the five-day statewide blitz.
Police are reminding motorists to expect to be intercepted and tested - anywhere, anytime.
One in every 473 motorists tested for alcohol were caught over the limit during last month's statewide operation, with police detecting 250 drink driving offences from 118,427 preliminary breath tests.
A further 163 drivers returned a positive roadside drug test, with 3,669 roadside drug tests conducted over Labour Day weekend.
Speed enforcement will also be a major focus of the operation, with police detecting close to 2,900 speeding offences over Labour Day weekend last month - 25 per cent more than the same period in 2025.
There will also be a focus on major arterials heading to holiday hotspots and regional areas, with lives lost on regional roads accounting for more than half of this year's fatalities.
Police are urging motorists to remain alert when travelling this weekend, with complacency often leading to driving errors such as excessive or inappropriate speed, unsafe overtaking, failing to stop or give way, fatigue and distraction - all which have been cited as major contributing factors in this year's fatalities.
Operation Nexus commences at 0001 hours on Thursday 2 April and concludes at 2359 hours on Monday 6 April 2026.
For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads this long weekend, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.
Quotes attributable to Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner, Justin Goldsmith:
"We've really focused on uplifting our road policing enforcement, particularly during our highest-risk periods when our statewide operations are in effect.
"We saw a significant year-on-year increase of both patrol hours and infringements issued during last month's operation, and we'll again be throwing every available resource at this weekend's Easter road safety blitz.
"We know this is a weekend that attracts significant travel across the state, so we won't be taking any chances - and neither should you.
"The reality is, we only issue infringements if an offence has been detected, so it's quite simple - comply with the road rules and you will avoid a penalty.
"Motorists can expect to see a major police presence on the state's roads this weekend, and they should expect to be tested for alcohol and drugs anywhere, anytime.
"At the end of the day, we just want everyone to make it home safely to their families this Easter, and we'll be doing everything we can to ensure that happens."
