Community
29 March, 2024
Police out in force for Operation Nexus
DRUGS and alcohol will be a focus for police this Easter as they mount a statewide operation on the roads.
The force’s anywhere, anytime enforcement approach will continue over the high-risk period.
Operation Nexus was launched this week, with police joined by the family of a 23-year-old man killed in a car accident in 2022.
The man died after the car he was a passenger in collided with a tree in Terang.
A drink-driving P-plater was behind the wheel when the fatal collision occurred.
Police intelligence shows a recent a spike in drivers getting behind the wheel when they’re drug or alcohol affected.
As Victoria Police launches Operation Nexus, to run from Thursday (today) to Easter Monday, motorists are warned officers could be anywhere at any time.
Assistant commissioner road policing Glenn Weir said Operation Nexus will see police out in force across Victoria.
“That will include local highway patrol units, the State Highway Patrol, solo units and our drug and alcohol bus fleet,” he said.
“It’s also important to remember every police car is a booze bus and drivers can be breath tested at any time.
“We want everyone to survive this Easter and will be doing all we can to make sure that happens.”
Major arterials and roads leading to regional Victoria and holiday hotspots will be key areas of enforcement.
The effort will include marked and unmarked vehicles as well as the force’s booze and drug bus fleet.
In addition to impairment, speed, fatigue, distraction and seatbelt compliance will be in the sights of police.
Statewide, 67 lives have been lost this year compared with 76 last year.
Deaths on rural roads represent more than half of this year’s fatalities.
A total of 13 lives have been lost over Easter in the last six years.