WITH the state’s road toll climbing to its highest level in 16 years, Victoria Police is urging motorists to prioritise safety ahead of the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Operation Regal will run from Friday, June 6, to Monday, June 9, with police ramping up enforcement across Victoria in response to a worrying spike in lives lost, including 37 fatalities in May alone, the worst May toll since 2004.
So far in 2025, 136 people have died on Victorian roads — a 14 per cent increase compared to the same time last year. The last time fatalities reached similar levels this early in the year was in 2008.
Authorities are particularly concerned by the number of vulnerable road users involved, with eight motorcyclists and six pedestrians killed last month. Excessive speed, inexperience, and unauthorised riding are leading causes in motorcycle incidents, while driver inattention and failure to give way are commonly cited in collisions with pedestrians.
Road Policing Command Acting Assistant Commissioner David Byrt said the level of trauma was “extremely concerning”.
“These road trauma numbers of course represent actual people — people who have been killed, or whose lives are changed forever, simply from travelling on our roads,” he said.
“Driving during winter presents additional challenges, such as navigating slippery roads and poor visibility, and there is less room for error.”
Police will be targeting major highways and holiday routes, including roads to the alpine regions, with the snow season officially beginning this weekend. Motorists are reminded to check weather conditions and carry wheel chains where required.
With thousands expected to travel and several events planned over the long weekend, police will also be conducting widespread drug and alcohol testing across the state.
Last year’s Operation Regal saw more than 7,000 infringements issued during the same four-day period.
“We’ll be highly visible and enforcing across the state’s roads this long weekend, cracking down on any dangerous driving behaviour that puts other road users at risk,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Byrt said.
“Please take extra care on the roads and be sure to drive to the conditions.”
