FOLLOWING a “disappointing” holiday season for drink and drug driving last month, locals have been urged to do the “Australian thing” and look after their mates out on the road this Australia Day long weekend.
Swan Hill police and highway patrol officers will be joining colleagues across the state in cracking down on driving offences, as part of the statewide Operation Amity run between today and Tuesday.
Swan Hill Local Area Commander Inspector Dan Davison said police will be saturating the district’s roads and patrolling high-risk areas.
“People can expect to have their number plates scanned, be breath tested, drug tested and speed checked by police,” he said
“Our officers will be out in force with the Highway Patrol supported well by all our police stations across the entire police division.”
The statewide road policing operation will see police targeting drink and drug driving, speeding, driver distractions, seat-belts and fatigue-related issues.
Insp Davison said police were especially aiming to curb drink and drug driving rates, which were rising locally.
During Operation Roadwise, the police’s last road campaign between December 13 and January 3, local police booked 17 people for driving over the prescribed drug and alcohol limits — a number labelled “disappointing” by the local Highway Patrol.
“Our goal of zero lives lost and zero serious injuries can only be achieved by a whole of community effort,” Insp Davison said.
“Do the Australian thing and look after your mates — if you know they shouldn’t be driving or they are doing the wrong thing, speak up; it may just save their life.”
