Police have detected over 7,500 traffic offences during a major five-day Easter road safety operation in Victoria.
Operation Nexus saw police targeting high-risk driving behaviour across the state's roads, in an effort to reduce road trauma.
Police had warned motorists to expect an increased presence on the roads, recording a 19 per cent increase in patrol hours compared to the same Easter period last year.
The uplift in enforcement also saw a 23 per cent increase in the number of infringements issued over Easter this year.
Almost half of all offences detected during Operation Nexus were for speeding, with police issuing over 3,500 speeding infringements - three quarters of these were for motorists caught between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.
Concerningly, one in every 464 drivers tested for alcohol were caught over the limit, with police detecting 316 drink driving offences from 146,698 preliminary breath tests.
A further 178 drivers returned a positive roadside drug test, with 3,505 roadside drug tests conducted.
There were also 578 drivers detected driving who should not be behind the wheel, due to being unlicenced, disqualified or suspended from driving.
The total 7,567 offences detected during Operation Nexus included:
- 3,571 speeding offences
- 548 disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers
- 421 disobey signs/signals
- 316 drink driving offences from 146,698 preliminary breath tests
- 265 mobile phone offences
- 178 drug driving offences from 3,505 roadside drug tests
- 136 vehicle impounds
- 110 seat belt offences; and
- 649 unregistered vehicles
There were three fatalities on Victorian roads during the five-day operational period, including a male pedestrian struck by a vehicle on the Eastern Freeway in Kew East on Saturday morning, a single-vehicle collision in Nulla Vale on Monday evening, and a male motorcyclist in Portland on Monday evening.
These fatalities bring the total lives lost on Victorian roads this year to 66, compared to 81 at the same time last year.
Police are reminding motorists they will continue to be enforcing anywhere, anytime across the state's roads, with another major road policing operation to be launched later this week.
Operation Nexus ran from 12:01am Thursday 2 April and concluded 11:59pm on Monday 6 April 2026.
Quotes attributable to Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner, Justin Goldsmith:
"It's been great to see everyone getting out and enjoying their Easter break, but there was certainly no break for Victoria Police - our members were committed to having a significant presence across the state's roads.
"Despite our repeated warnings that we would be out in force, disappointingly we have detected thousands of infringements for breaching the road rules over Easter.
"The majority of these drivers acknowledge they've done the wrong thing, but have chosen to take a risk anyway - whether that's speeding a few kilometres over the speed limit, or getting behind the wheel after a few drinks.
"Ultimately, all traffic penalties are completely avoidable if motorists stick to the rules.
"With school holidays underway in Victoria, motorists will see police remaining highly visible and enforcing on the state's roads over the coming weeks, and should expect to be tested anywhere, anytime."
