Police have detected a further 420 offences last weekend during a major road policing operation targeting motorists heading to Mount Buller.
Operation Eastern Snow has seen police highly visible and enforcing on 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.
Last weekend's operation targeted roads heading to and from Mount Buller, with 427 offences detected over a four-day period from 18 to 21 July, including:
- 250 speeding offences
- 41 unregistered vehicles
- 31 defect notices issued to unsafe vehicles
- 28 heavy vehicle offences
- 13 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
- 13 seatbelt offences
- 4 drug driving offences from 185 roadside drug tests
- 3 mobile phone offences
- 1 drink driving offences from 2369 preliminary breath tests
- 1 vehicle impoundment
The figures are on top of the 470 traffic offences were detected the previous weekend, between 11 and 14 July in the Falls Creek and Mount Hotham areas.
Police are urging motorists to travel cautiously on roads impacted by snow and ice and drive to the conditions when heading to the state's snowfields and alpine areas.
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.
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 $407 fine, while failing to fit them when required may attract a $1018 penalty.
Operation Eastern Snow will continue throughout the Mount Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham areas during July and August.
Quotes attributable Eastern Region Road Policing Inspector, Jarrad Dowswell:
"To catch so many drivers in one weekend is disappointing, but to have almost as many the following weekend just makes you shake your head.
"We will continue to run this operation throughout the snow season, as clearly there is a need to enforce on the roads to and from the snow to keep all road users safe.
"These areas can experience extreme conditions and road users should not be taking any risks when getting behind the wheel."
