Thousands Caught in Easter Road Blitz
Police have detected more than 7,500 traffic offences during a major Easter operation across Victoria. Operation Nexus targeted high-risk driving behaviours over five days. Authorities aimed to reduce road trauma during a traditionally dangerous period. Importantly, police increased patrol hours by 19 per cent compared to last year’s resourcing. As a result, enforcement activity rose sharply across the state for this period.
Speeding Dominates Offence Numbers
Speeding accounted for nearly half of all detected offences. Officers issued more than 3,500 speeding infringements. Notably, most offenders travelled between 10km/h and 25km/h over the limit. This range remains a key contributor to serious crashes. Meanwhile, 421 drivers disobeyed road signs or signals. In addition, police detected 265 mobile phone offences.
Drink and Drug Driving Still a Concern
Police conducted 146,698 preliminary breath tests during the operation. From these tests, officers detected 316 drink driving offences. Alarmingly, one in every 464 drivers tested returned a positive result. Furthermore, roadside drug testing identified 178 drug-affected drivers from 3,505 tests. These figures highlight ongoing risks despite repeated warnings to motorists.
Unlicensed Drivers and Vehicle Offences
Authorities also detected hundreds of drivers who should not have been on the road. In total, 548 drivers were unlicensed, disqualified, or suspended. Additionally, police identified 649 unregistered vehicles. Officers impounded 136 vehicles during the operation. They also issued 110 offences relating to seatbelts.
Fatalities Mark a Tragic Easter Toll
Despite increased enforcement, three people lost their lives during the operation. A pedestrian died after being struck on the Eastern Freeway in Kew East. A separate crash occurred in Nulla Vale. Another fatal incident involved a motorcyclist in Portland. Consequently, the state road toll has reached 66 deaths this year. At the same time last year, the figure stood at 81.
Police Warn Enforcement Will Continue
Police have reminded motorists that enforcement will continue. You can be caught anywhere at any anytime. Another major road policing operation will begin later this week. Therefore, drivers should expect a continued strong presence on Victorian roads by Victoria Police. Operation Nexus ran from 12:01am on Thursday the 2nd of April until 11:59pm on Monday the 6th of April 2026.
