Geelong and Surf Coast targeted in Easter road blitz

Police will target impaired drivers in a major crackdown over the Easter and Anzac Day period, with a new statewide operation set to begin on Thursday.

Operation Compass will run for 10 days across Victoria, focusing on drink and drug-affected drivers, with police urging passengers to speak up and not enter vehicles with impaired drivers.

It follows new data revealing that impaired drivers carrying passengers were involved in 385 injury collisions and 18 fatal crashes across 2023 and 2024.

Geelong and the Surf Coast were among the top five regions for these incidents.

Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said the collisions were entirely preventable.

“These drivers haven’t just made an incredibly poor choice by getting behind the wheel impaired, they’ve selfishly chosen to put the lives of their passengers at risk,” Weir said.

“What we also want to highlight is that there were hundreds of opportunities for the passengers in these collisions to speak up and put a stop to this behaviour in the first place.”

The data revealed 403 impaired drivers and 586 passengers were involved in collisions over the two-year period.

Young drivers aged 18 to 24 made up more than 32 per cent of those impaired while carrying passengers, followed by drivers aged 30 to 39 at 20 per cent. Almost a quarter of the passengers involved were under 18.

Police say 46 per cent of the impaired drivers had consumed alcohol, 43 per cent tested positive for drugs, and 11 per cent were under the influence of both.

The Geelong/Surf Coast area recorded one of the highest numbers of these crashes, alongside Casey/Cardinia/Greater Dandenong and the Bendigo and Ballarat regions.

Last year’s Easter and Anzac Day operation saw more than 246,000 breath tests and over 5,000 roadside drug tests conducted, with 399 drink drivers and 280 drug drivers caught.

The operation will also target speed, fatigue, distraction and seatbelt offences, with extra patrols on major arterials leading to Surf Coast holiday destinations.

“We just want everyone to make it home safely to their families this Easter, and we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure that happens,” Weir said.