Victoria Police have issued a strong warning ahead of the Easter long weekend, with new data highlighting the dangers of impaired driving, especially when passengers are involved.
Dylan Anderson
Impaired Drivers Linked to Hundreds of Collisions
New analysis reveals that over the past two years, impaired drivers carrying passengers were involved in 385 injury-causing crashes and 18 fatal collisions across Victoria. These alarming figures have prompted urgent calls for both drivers and passengers to act responsibly.
Police are especially concerned about passengers failing to speak up when their driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Authorities are urging Victorians to refuse to travel in any vehicle where the driver is impaired.
Operation Compass: A 10-Day Statewide Crackdown
Beginning Thursday, 17 April, and running until Sunday, 27 April, Operation Compass will see Victoria Police deploy every available road policing resource during one of the busiest and riskiest travel periods of the year.
Police will be stationed across both urban and regional roads, conducting random breath and drug tests under a "anywhere, anytime" enforcement strategy. The extended blitz covers both the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends.
Young Drivers and Passengers Most at Risk
Data from 2023 and 2024 shows that 989 people were affected in collisions involving impaired drivers carrying passengers. Of the 403 impaired drivers involved:
- 32% were aged 18–24
- 20% were aged 30–39
- 73% were male
Among the 586 passengers involved:
- 30% were aged 18–24
- 24% were aged 17 or younger
- 57% were male, 42% female
These figures underscore a disturbing trend: younger age groups are disproportionately affected by impaired driving, both as drivers and passengers.
Dylan Anderson
Regional Areas See Highest Collision Rates
The regions with the highest number of incidents involving impaired drivers and passengers include:
- Casey / Cardinia / Greater Dandenong
- Bendigo / Campaspe / Macedon Ranges / Goldfields
- Geelong / Surf Coast
- Ballarat / Moorabool
- Banyule-Nillumbik / Darebin / Whittlesea
Alcohol and Drug Driving Still Prevalent
Among the 403 impaired drivers:
- 46% were drink driving
- 43% were drug driving
- 11% were under the influence of both
Last year, over 246,000 preliminary breath tests and 5,000 roadside drug tests were conducted during the holiday period, with 399 drink drivers and 280 drug drivers caught.
Focus Areas for Operation Compass
Operation Compass will not only target impaired drivers but also enforce compliance against:
- Speeding
- Fatigue
- Distraction
- Seatbelt usage
Extra police presence will be concentrated along key arterials and routes to regional holiday destinations. Authorities remind all motorists that over half of 2025's road fatalities have occurred on regional roads.
A Shared Responsibility
Victoria Police are calling on passengers to actively play a role in road safety. Refusing to ride with an impaired driver could save your life.
Police say the most effective way to reduce the road toll is through both driver accountability and passenger awareness.
Operation Compass begins at 12:01 AM on Thursday, 17 April, and ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday, 27 April.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
