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ROAD users have been urged to stay safe on the roads this long weekend.
Victoria Police aims to cut deaths on the road to zero with a road safety operation labelled Operation Scoreboard.
Over the course of last year’s grand final long weekend, three people died and more than 150 people were injured on the state’s roads.
Police have appealed to motorists to stick to the speed limit and not drink and drive.
The operation began on Thursday and will continue until midnight Sunday, with certain places identified as high risk – including the Mitchell, Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast, Benalla and Bass Coast areas – to have additional police resources in place throughout the weekend.
The Transport Accident Commission is also urging people to leave their car at home if they plan to drink, even if they intend to have just one or two drinks.
TAC senior road safety manager Samantha Cockfield said any level of alcohol in a person’s system impaired their judgment and their ability to drive safely.
Drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 are five times more likely to have a crash than before they started drinking, and for those at 0.12, their crash risk increases tenfold.
“If you’re catching up with friends for a grand final barbecue and you know you will have a couple of drinks, the best plan is to leave the car at home and use alternative transport,” Ms Cockfield said.
Paramedics have also urged people to celebrate responsibly, especially when it comes to alcohol, as Ambulance Victoria prepares for a surge in call-outs tomorrow.