Police have detected almost 500 offences last weekend during a major road policing operation targeting motorists heading to Victoria's alpine areas.
Operation Eastern Snow has seen police highly visible and enforcing, with a particular focus on roads heading to and from snowfields including Mount Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham.
Buses and heavy vehicles are a major focus during the operation, with police working alongside Safe Transport Victoria and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to intercept vehicles at designated checkpoints and conducting safety compliance checks.
Police were enforcing in the Mount Hotham and Falls Creek area last weekend, with 470 offences detected over a four-day period, including:
- 277 speeding offences
- 52 defect notices issued to unsafe vehicles
- 40 unregistered vehicles
- 28 heavy vehicle offences
- 10 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
- 6 mobile phone offences
- 4 drink driving offences from 1350 preliminary breath tests
- 4 drug driving offences from 202 roadside drug tests
- 5 vehicle impoundments
- 2 seatbelt offences
- 2 disobey traffic sign offences
With the operation set to continue throughout the remainder of the snow season, police are reminding motorists travelling to the snowfields to drive to the conditions - slow down, remain alert on unfamiliar roads and allow plenty of extra travel time, especially during busy periods.
All vehicles entering alpine areas during the declared snow season are required by law to carry wheel chains and fit them when instructed. Failure to carry chains may result in a $395 fine, while failing to fit them when required may attract a $988 penalty.
It comes following a recent police warning that up to 80 vehicles a day were being turned around at Mt Buller by authorities due to motorists not carrying the required snow chains.
Wheel chains are essential for navigating steep, icy roads and can be the difference between staying on the road or sliding off it.
Police have responded to a significant amount of rescues in alpine areas this month, mostly consisting of motorists who needed to be extracted to their cars due to rapidly changing weather conditions and being unprepared.
Police are also asking motorists to check and remove snow from their vehicles before departing the snowfields, to avoid it being dislodged while moving and creating dangerous driving conditions for other road users or potentially impacting driver's visibility.
Operation Eastern Snow will continue throughout the Mount Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham areas during July and August.
Quotes attributable to Eastern Region Road Policing Inspector, Jarrad Dowswell:
"It's concerning that we've seen such high levels of noncompliance on the roads by motorists travelling to and from the state's alpine areas.
"Some of these roads have been significantly impacted by ice and snow in recent weeks, yet we continue to catch people for speeding and engaging in dangerous behaviours that puts all road users at risk.
"We're also concerned that a number of motorists are driving potentially unsafe vehicles to the snow - we've issued a number of defect notices as a result.
"Already this season several vehicles have become stuck or have slid off the road, requiring vehicle occupants to be rescued, because they were not carrying snow chains and were unequipped to deal with the conditions.
"Operation Eastern Snow will continue throughout the snow season, and we'll continue to have a major presence on roads heading to and from Victorian snowfields, and be on the lookout for any noncompliance."
