TRAFFIC police will saturate Mallee roads during the Easter holiday period, as Victoria faces its deadliest year on the roads since 2008.
Operation Nexus, which launches at midnight, will ramp up police enforcement across the state in an effort to reduce road trauma.
It followed a shocking January, in which 37 lives were lost on Victorian roads, one of the worst months in recent years.
So far this year, 87 lives had been lost statewide, up 33 per cent on last year.
Victoria was set to eclipse a 15-year record if current road fatality patterns continue, with the state on track for 300 deaths in 2023.
Swan Hill Inspector Gerard de Vries said there would be a highly visible police presence on roads, enforcing speed, impaired driving, fatigue, distractions and vehicle non-compliance.
He said so far this year there had been two fatalities on Mallee roads, both caused by fatigue.
“We will have highway patrol and uniformed police doing random breath testing for alcohol and drugs,” Insp de Vries said.
“The impact of fatalities extends beyond just the victim.
“There is the broad family impacted, friends and emergency services.
“It’s absolutely devastating and for many people, they never get over the death of a family member.
“Most of the fatalities happening are completely avoidable.”
Insp de Vries said a number of roads impacted by last year’s floods had been repaired but some were still in “less than ideal condition”.
“Drivers need to concentrate and adjust their driving behaviour and speed to the conditions around those roads,” he said.
“If you are feeling fatigued, pull over for a nap and utilise the Driver Reviver sites across the state.”
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir, of road policing command, said police would use mobile speed cameras to catch illegal activity.
“We will make sure the cameras are positioned either side of police visibility,” Mr Weir said.
“People might see a police car but that won’t be the end of it. We will be increasing the bubble.”
Major arterials and roads leading to regional Victoria and holiday hotspots would be a particular focus following a spike in deaths.
Deaths on rural roads made up 60 per cent of this year’s overall fatalities.
Police issued more than 8000 infringement notices over a five-day Easter operation last year and will again be on the lookout for speeding as well as distracted and impaired drivers.
