A road safety operation targeting motorists heading to Victoria's alpine areas has detected more than 1300 offences.
Operation Eastern Snow has seen police highly visible and enforcing on major roads heading to and from snowfields, including Mount Buller, Mount Baw Baw, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham.
Police are also working alongside Safe Transport Victoria and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to intercept vehicles at designed checkpoints to conduct compliance checks and conduct alcohol and drug testing.
Since the commencement of Operation Eastern Snow in July, police have detected a total 1356 offences.
The most recent enforcement period, targeting motorists heading to and from Falls Creek and Mount Hotham, saw 457 offences detected over a four-day period from 28 - 31 July, including:
- 260 speeding offences
- 36 defect notices issued to unsafe vehicles
- 36 heavy vehicle offences
- 31 unregistered vehicles
- 16 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
- 5 drink driving offences from 2180 preliminary breath tests
- 5 seatbelt offences
- 5 disobey traffic signals/signs
- 3 drug driving offences from 182 roadside drug tests
- 2 vehicle impoundments
- 1 mobile phone offence
With Victoria set to shiver through a wintry weekend, police are urging any motorists heading to the snowfields to drive cautiously on roads impacted by snow and ice, and carry and fit snow chains as required.
The warning comes as police were required to rescue the occupants of two vehicles which became stuck approximately 4kms from the Mount Hotham summit on 31 July, due to a change in weather conditions.
Both vehicles weren't carrying snow chains and were required to be extracted, with police issuing fines to both drivers for failing to carry snow chains.
Motorists are reminded that 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 $407 fine, while failing to fit them when required may attract a $1018 penalty.
Motorists should also check and remove snow from their vehicles before departing the snowfields, to avoid it being dislodged while moving and potentially impacting the driver's visibility or creating dangerous conditions for other road users.
Operation Eastern Snow will continue to run this weekend and for the remainder of the 2025 Victorian snow season.
Quotes attributable Eastern Region Road Policing Inspector, Jarrad Dowswell:
"Despite our repeated warnings, it is evident that many motorists are ill-equipped for travelling to alpine areas and dealing with potential adverse weather conditions.
"Concerningly, we continue to detect far too many motorists for speeding, impaired driving and travelling in unsafe vehicles - all of which are extremely dangerous when combined with slippery roads impacted by snow and ice.
"Motorists should expect to see us out enforcing on roads heading to and from the snowfields this weekend, and we're asking everyone to take particular care as we're expecting some very cold and wintry weather, which can wreak havoc on the roads.
"Make sure you carry and fit snow chains as required and most importantly, don't take any risks when driving in extreme conditions."
