POLICE Highway Patrol Police have taken possession of the first of six ANPR police cars, just in time for one of the most important blitzes of the year.
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Operation Nexus, which came into effect on Thursday morning is aimed at keeping the road toll at a minimum over the Easter long weekend, with police set to take a zero-tolerance approach to poor driver behaviour on the roads.
WATCH: Ballarat Fire Brigade captain Mark Cartledge talk about the impact of crashes on volunteers.
Ballarat Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Stuart Gale said the new cars would give police access to scan every numberplate they see on the roads.
It will make it easier to detect unregistered vehicles, drivers who may be suspended or have unpaid fines.
"We took possession of this vehicle on Wednesday and they will be rolled out over the weekend," he said.
The technology allows us to check vehicles as they go past. There are four cameras, one on each corner of the vehicle and it processes the numberplates and checks it for stolen vehicles, unregistered and suspended drivers, all those things.
- Ballarat Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Stuart Gale
"It will be a great time saver for us and gives us a chance to process those drivers and get them off the road."
It comes as police and emergency services join forces to limit the road toll this weekend.
The region has already seen 11 people lose their lives this year as Victoria's road toll has jumped to almost double the same time last year.
Ballarat Fire Station captain Mark Cartledge said it had been a tragic start to the year, and emergency services were feeling the pinch.
He implored drivers to take care on the roads.
"We've seen a massive increase in road rescues this year," he said. "We counted this morning that we've seen 40 call outs already this year and three of them were just yesterday.
"The holiday period is definitely a big concern, we've got more people out using the roads, there's more chance of collisions occurring. Hopefully we can reduce that so our volunteers can stay at home and enjoy being with their family."
Road Policing Command assistant commissioner Stephen Leane said if the community continues to drive the way they are, it's guaranteed there will be lives lost on the road this Easter.
"With 75 per cent of our lives lost this year being made up of country road users and motorcyclists we cannot stress enough the importance in slowing down, driving to the conditions and taking that 15 minute break," he said.
"Not arriving at your destination isn't worth the five minutes in time you gain from speeding or not driving to the conditions."
Operation Nexus will run until 11.59pm Monday April 22.
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