CHANCES are, this weekend our region's roads will be busier than they have been at any other time this year.
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The regime of restrictions that have been imposed upon Victorians since mid-March has largely prevented many of us from travelling - firstly at all, and then more recently, only short distances.
That meant the usual hustle and bustle of Easter was replaced with - well, almost nothing.
Our roads have been incredibly quiet until the last week or so, with city streets quickly returning to some sort of "normal", and car parks once again proving difficult to find around the central business district.
But a likely, and indeed welcome, influx of visitors this long weekend will mean our main highways will also be busy, and with that comes the increased likelihood of something going wrong, somewhere at some stage of the weekend.
It's been a while since we reminded drivers to slow down, take a break, please don't speed and don't drive if you've had a drink or you plan to do so.
Now that Victorians have been given approval to travel within our great state, we all want to welcome visitors to our region, and we want everyone to end their journey safely when the Queen's Birthday weekend is over.
And let's not forget - school resumes from Tuesday for a large number of Victorian students as well, after an extended, COVID-19 inspired break.
We have a long way to go in our nation's recovery from this pandemic, and this weekend is for many of us, the first real taste of freedom as we now know it for some time.
So please, over this weekend, don't forget the right things to do.
Social distancing while we adjust to these more relaxed rules has never been more important.
If we don't respect the rules, we continue to run the risk of igniting a new wave of COVID-19 infections, and with it, a return to restrictions that none of us want to see.
We hope everyone stays safe, and that everyone enjoys the long weekend - it's been well earned.