BALLARAT Police will join colleagues from around Australia and New Zealand to flood major highways and arterial roads as part of a 12-day road safety campaign.
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Operation Crossroads, involving the Ballarat Highway Patrol unit, coincides with the official Christmas road toll period, running until January 3.
The operation will focus on encouraging motorists to plan ahead for Christmas driving and show increased awareness to reduce road trauma.
Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Robert Hill said motorists were traditionally exposed to an increased risk of being involved in a collision at this time of year due to seasonal influences such as fatigue, driver distraction and drug and alcohol impairment.
“It’s these factors we’ve been targeting during the Summer Stay campaign and we will continue to do so, so that everyone can get where they’re going safely this Christmas.
“Over the 12-day Christmas road toll period last year, nine lives were lost on Victorian roads – that’s nine families who will be grieving instead of celebrating this year.”
He urged drivers to take simple steps to ensure their journey is a safe one.
“Take regular rest breaks every two hours if you’re driving a long way, and share the driving where possible.
“Every road user needs to take every action they can to stay alert, stay sober, stay within the limit and stay alive on our roads this Christmas.”
Operation Crossroads is the third operation as part of Victoria Police’s Summer Stay road enforcement campaign.
There were 12 Victorian road deaths two years ago. The man who died yesterday is the first fatality of this year’s state holiday road toll.
thomas.mcilroy@fairfaxmedia.com.au
