More than 15,300 traffic offences have been detected during a 15-day road policing operation over the Christmas and New Year period.
Operation Roadwise ran from December 18 to January 1 and saw police highly visible and enforcing across the state’s roads, in an effort to reduce road trauma over the high-risk period.
There was a significant focus on impaired drivers, with 328,164 preliminary breath tests and 9035 roadside drug tests conducted during the operation.
Police detected 659 drink drivers and caught 434 drug drivers.
The majority of offences detected were for speeding, with 6820 motorists detected over the speed limit. Other significant breaches included disqualified/suspended and unlicensed drivers (1131), mobile phone offences (513), disobey signs/signals (835), and seatbelt offences (221), there were 279 vehicle impoundments and 1422 unregistered vehicles were detected.
Sadly there were still seven lives lost on Victorian roads throughout the period of the blitz.
The total number of lives lost on Victorian roads in 2025 was 288.
This number is provisional only, as it’s subject to review until the end of this month.
With many Victorians expected to take extended holidays over the January period, police are warning motorists not to be complacent on the roads throughout the beginning of 2026.
Police will continue to have a major presence across Victoria’s road network, with a particular focus on busy holiday hotspots around the coast and throughout regional Victoria.
Motorists are being warned to be patient and allow extra travel time, as well as maintaining a safe braking distance and being cautious when overtaking, particularly around vehicles towing caravans and heavy vehicles. Police will also continue to conduct widespread roadside alcohol and drug testing during the summer months, with motorists warned to expect to be tested anywhere, at anytime.
