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As Victoria gears up for a long public holiday weekend, police are warning they will be out in force targeting drivers who aren't paying attention, or with drugs or alcohol in their system, in a bid to save lives.
Police will be out in force on Victorian roads this long weekend, trying to stem the tide of deadly head-on collisions caused by distraction, speeding and drink driving.
Major roads heading out to regional areas, especially on Melbourne’s fringes, will be a focus, although police could be anywhere, issuing tough penalties for those distracted or driving over the drug or alcohol limit.
The number of fatal head-on crashes with another car caused by a one-off incident rather than erratic driving behaviour has soared this year, up 75 per cent compared to 2024.
New data reveals that 60 per cent of all those killed on the state’s roads in 2025 have been due to basic driving errors, with failing to keep left the most common factor.
According to Victoria Police, the growing trend shows motorists are becoming distracted and drifting into oncoming traffic, often because they’re tired or using a mobile phone.
“We believe fatigue, inattention or distraction from mobile phone use behind the wheel are likely contributing to these deadly head-on collisions, and it’s all completely avoidable,” Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing, Glenn Weir, said in a statement.
As well as watching for inattentive drivers, police will also be running widespread testing for drug and alcohol use.
Operation Furlong is now in force, starting from 12:00 am today (Friday October 31) and running until 11:59 pm on Tuesday, November 4.
“As we head into another long weekend, we’re pleading with all motorists to remain alert and cautious behind the wheel, especially on longer journeys and when travelling on rural roads,” he added.
“During Operation Furlong you can expect to see police highly visible across the state’s roads – we’ll be on the lookout for those who choose to speed or drive distracted and we’ll also be conducting widespread drug and alcohol testing.”
So far this year, 18 more people have been killed on Victorian roads than at the same time in 2024, with police saying the most likely place and time for head-on collisions to occur is on rural roads with a 100km/h speed limit between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
To avoid an accident or fine, members of the public are being urged to take public transport or a rideshare if driving is not possible, or to stick to the speed limit, avoid distraction and take breaks if spending a long time behind the wheel.
Last month, police caught more than 5000 people committing traffic offences during the four-day Operation Scoreboard over the AFL Grand Final long weekend.
In total, 2179 penalties were issued for speeding offences, 192 for drink-driving, 146 for using a mobile phone, and 138 for drug-driving offences.
Alongside the Melbourne Cup caution from police comes a warning from the National Heavy Vehicle Register (NHVR) about drivers taking care this Halloween, particularly around children, following a rise in deaths involving heavy goods vehicles this year.
From January to September this year there were 138 fatal crashes involving a heavy vehicle, with 149 people killed, up from 121 accidents and 137 people in the same period in 2024.
“With more pedestrians on the streets this Halloween – especially children dressed in dark costumes and walking in low-light conditions – we’re urging every driver to slow down and stay alert, so everyone gets home safely,” said NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati.
“One moment of inattention can change lives forever – drivers should remember to watch for children crossing the road unexpectedly, ensure vehicle lights and reflectors are working properly, and avoid any distractions behind the wheel.”
A born-and-bred newshound, Kathryn has worked her way up through the ranks reporting for, and later editing, two renowned UK regional newspapers and websites, before moving on to join the digital newsdesk of one of the world’s most popular newspapers – The Sun. More recently, she’s done a short stint in PR in the not-for-profit sector, and led the news team at Wheels Media.
