Ballarat Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Pat Cleary said police would be conducting drug and alcohol testing across the weekend in a bid to drive down trauma on the road. 

“There will be an increased policing presence,” Senior Sergeant Cleary said.

“We simply ask drivers to take care of themselves and other road users. Drivers can expect to be both drug and alcohol tested.

“Each police car is essentially a booze and drug bus.” 

TAC road safety manager Samantha Buckis said planning a safe way home should be racegoers’ number-one priority if their race day plan involves drinking alcohol.