Four-year-old Brax Aiden Kyle was the youngest victim. He was killed when he was struck by a Toyota LandCruiser in Berwick, in Melbourne's south-east, on Friday afternoon.

He was holding his father Matt's hand when he was hit.

On Good Friday, veteran police officer Ken Rich was killed when he was hit by a ute while cycling with his daughter along the Princes Highway in Pakenham.

The most recent tragedy came on Anzac Day, when a 40-year-old father died after his motorcycle hit another car in St Albans. The father of two young boys died instantly.

The spate of deaths comes as the 2017 road toll keeps pace with last year, the worst for deaths in almost a decade.

Ten of the fatalities in the Easter holiday period occurred on country roads, where the speed limit is often 100km/h.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Doug Fryer said it was time to consider reducing the speed limit on unsealed and gravel roads in country areas.

He wants speed limits to be cut to 70 km/h on some roads.

"We need to rethink what the appropriate speed limit is for those roads that carry minor amounts of traffic, but still have trauma on them," he said.

"Last night, 12 families went to bed mourning the loss of one of their own, with their lives changed forever. Road trauma does not discriminate, sadly those killed during the operation range in age from a four-year-old little boy to a 91-year-old man.

"We as police can't be everywhere, that is why the onus must go back onto all road users, to police themselves when on the roads."

Of those killed on country roads in 2016, Mr Fryer said that 90 per cent died on "B or C class roads" rather than major highways.

"Our gravel and unsealed roads still in many many places are 100 km/h," he said.

"Now that is a nonsense that we would advocate that 100 on an unsealed road is safe."

Mr Fryer said drivers needed to view the signposted limit on such roads as a maximum, instead of recommended, speed.

Police tallied up more than 19,500 traffic offences and about 2600 crime offences during their Easter road blitz, dubbed Operation Nexus.

They nabbed 596 drink drivers and 356 drug drivers.

One in 14 of the 5000 drivers tested were found to be affected by drugs, highlighting a major issue for road police.

"We now know that illicit drugs is more represented than alcohol in fatal trauma," Mr Fryer said.

Police also nabbed more than 2500 unregistered vehicles and just over 900 unlicensed drivers across the holiday period.

There were also nearly 7000 speeding offences, 800 mobile phone offences and more than 1200 drivers caught disobeying signs.

The road toll sits at 86, compared with 92 at the same time last year.

Fatalities during Operation Nexus

April 13: 19-year-old man killed in Bowser when car veered of road and crashed.

April 14: 58-year-old male cyclist died when riding along highway in Pakenham and was struck by vehicle from behind.

April 15: 91-year-old male driver killed in two car collision in Tynong North.

April 18: 21-year-old male driver died when crashed into a tree in Tallandoon.

April 18: 85-year-old male pedestrian crossing at pedestrian crossing died when hit by cyclist in St Kilda.

April 19: 69-year-old passenger killed when two cars collided head on in Cann River.

April 21: 4-year-old boy struck and killed by 4WD in medical centre car park in Berwick.

April 21: 66-year-old male driver killed in two car head-on collision in Goornong.

April 21: 54-year-old male driver lost control and ran off road into tree in Alexandra.

April 21: 43-year-old male pedestrian standing on road when struck by a car in Shepparton.

April 23: 27-year-old male motorcyclist collided with mini bus on French Island.

April 25: 40-year-old male motorcyclist killed following collision with a car in St Albans.