Drivers warned to stop risking lives during Australia's biggest ever traffic operation

09 Dec 2008

MEDIA RELEASE: 9th December 2008

Victoria’s motorists have been reminded that they will be caught if they continue to put lives at risk with the launch of the TAC’s new advertising campaign.

Minister for the TAC Tim Holding said the latest figures showed that some drivers continue to break the law including drink driving, drug driving and speeding despite warnings that they will be caught in Australia’s biggest traffic operation.

“During this operation Victoria Police conducted over 300,000 drug and alcohol tests so far which resulted in 1,315 positive results. This means that about one in every 220 drivers are continuing to drive while affected by alcohol or drugs,” Mr Holding said.

“Some drivers have learnt the hard way that if you drink and drive you will get caught, if you take drugs and drive you will get caught and if you speed you will get caught.”

Over the past two weeks, Victoria Police has undertaken a coordinated enforcement operation across the state through Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers).
RAID results so far for Victoria include:

• Over 300,000 drug and alcohol tests conducted;
• 1,315 positive tests (drink drivers); and
• 43 drug drivers detected

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner (Traffic and Transit Safety) Ken Lay said the results were very disappointing given how much media attention has been given to our enforcement activities.

“It is clear that some drivers are still choosing to take a chance with other people’s lives through risky driving,” Mr Lay said.

“Police will be out on the roads both day and night in the lead up to Christmas as part of Operation RAID. We will continue to work hard but drivers need to take more responsibility for the way they drive.”

Mr Lay said Victoria Police was ramping up enforcement efforts to counteract an increasing trend in road trauma during the Christmas and New Year period. In 2007, there were 17 deaths on Victorian roads, the worst trauma outcome in the nation.

“The TAC is reminding the community through its latest campaign that we’ll have more police testing more people at more places, so we’ll catch you before someone gets hurt.”

The 2008 road toll at midnight on 8 December 2008 stood at 289, compared with 303 at the same time last year.