- Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Victorians hitting the roads over the Melbourne Cup Carnival weekend are being urged to plan ahead and keep road safety front of mind.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville joined Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane ahead of Victoria Police's latest weekend road safety crackdown.
Operation Furlong, an annual road policing operation that takes place over the Melbourne Cup Carnival weekend, will be happening across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria, with an additional police presence to ensure drivers are doing the right thing.
The Cup Carnival weekend is a busy time on Victoria's roads, and people need to take care to ensure they stay safe over the festive racing period – whether they're travelling in the city or heading away for the weekend.
Since the beginning of the year 229 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads, which is 57 more than the same time last year. Most of the 2019 increase has been in regional Victoria, which is why police will be out in full force focusing on these areas over the racing period.
Operation Furlong will work to save lives and reduce road trauma, with a focus on drink and drug driving, speed, fatigue, seatbelt offences and driver distraction, including mobile phone use.
Last year's Operation Furlong detected 3346 speeding offences, 254 drink drivers, 215 drug drivers, and 200 disqualified or suspended drivers.
More than 940 unregistered vehicles were detected, 240 people were caught without seatbelts, and 362 driving without licences. Disappointingly, more than 570 people were caught using mobile phones while driving last year, which significantly increases the risk of a crash.
All available police resources will be on patrol across the state this long weekend to target these dangerous behaviours as part of the operation, including local front line units.
The Andrews Labor Government is acting to address the road toll, including a 50 percent increase in drug testing in the Victorian Budget 2018/19, and funding for a 75 per cent increase in mobile camera operations. Operation Furlong begins at 12.01am on Friday 1 November 2019 and ends at 11.59pm on Tuesday 5 November 2019.
As noted by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
"We'll be seeing an increase in traffic and we're reminding people who may be out celebrating the Melbourne Cup Carnival to plan ahead and make sure they get home safely."
"If you think you're unfit to drive, don't. It's better to play it safe than play with your life."
As noted by Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford
"It's been a devastating year on our roads, particularly in regional Victoria where we've seen an increase in fatalities."
