Road users on notice this long-weekend

MILDURA police have urged motorists to pay extra care and attention on the roads this month, with March considered to be the most dangerous period on Victorian roads.

The warning comes as police launched Operation Arid, a statewide road police effort targeting high-risk driving behaviour and non-compliance over the Labour Day long-weekend in an effort to reduce road trauma.

Historically, March has the highest volume of road trauma in both metropolitan and regional Victoria of any month of the year at almost 10 per cent higher than any other month.

In 2024, there were 30 lives lost during in March, marking the worst month on record since 2011, with 34 lives lost.

Of the 30 lives lost during last March, more than half were drivers and two-thirds occurred in regional Victoria.

There have been a total 58 lives lost on Victoria’s roads in 2025, higher than 51 at the same time last year.

Mildura police Superintendent John O’Connor said police would be out in force across the region this weekend as part of Operation Arid which runs from Friday to 12pm on Monday.

“We do not want any tragedies in our community this weekend, or at any time for that matter,” he said.

“You will see police all around Mildura and Swan Hill and across the Western Region screening drivers for drugs and alcohol, but also enforcing speed and distraction offences and people not wearing seat belts.”

Supt O’Connor said motorists could expect additional traffic on the roads over coming days.

“There is going to be a lot of people coming up to the river for the warmer weather and there will be a lot of boats and caravans on the roads,” he said.

“People can get frustrated behind slow moving vehicles, but there are overtaking lanes that motorists can use, so we are pleading with motorists to take your time.

“Driving five kilometres over the speed limit is only going to get you to your destination a few minutes earlier, so don’t risk overtaking someone for the sake of getting to a destination five minutes early.”

He said police would also be enforcing speed limit restrictions through townships along the Calder and Murray Valley Highways and police would not be taking excuses about not slowing down quick enough.

Twenty people have already lost their lives in the Western Region, which covers Mildura, as a result of road accidents this year.

“A lot of these accidents are avoidable — it’s people speeding, going through Stop signs, not wearing seat belts and having illicit drugs in their system or alcohol,” he said.

“I just plead to the community to drive safely.”