Mornington Peninsula, VIC — More than 700 drivers were caught under the influence of alcohol or drugs during Victoria Police’s Operation Compass, a statewide road safety blitz conducted over the Easter and Anzac Day period.
The operation, which ran from 17 to 27 April 2025, targeted impaired, speeding, unauthorised and dangerous drivers across Victoria.
According to Victoria Police, 375 drink-driving offences were detected from over 214,000 preliminary breath tests. Alarmingly, 371 drivers tested positive to drugs from just 8,051 roadside tests—equating to roughly one in every 21 drivers.
In addition to impaired driving offences, police recorded:
- 4,801 speeding infringements — with most drivers travelling between 10km/h and 25km/h over the limit
- 544 mobile phone offences
- 687 offences for disobeying traffic signs or signals
- 187 seatbelt violations
Authorities also found more than 850 unauthorised drivers behind the wheel — including 506 unlicensed and 345 disqualified or suspended drivers. Police impounded 234 vehicles and identified 1,137 unregistered vehicles during the operation.
Tragically, Operation Compass coincided with nine fatal collisions across Victoria. This included a crash at Warragul on 27 April, resulting in the death of a male driver. As of the operation’s conclusion, Victoria’s road toll for 2025 stood at 95 — up from 92 at the same time last year.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir described the results as “completely unacceptable,” expressing serious concern over the number of drug and alcohol-affected drivers.
“These drivers are a risk not only to themselves but to all road users,” Assistant Commissioner Weir said. “Around half of the drivers involved in fatal collisions during this period were not legally permitted to drive.”
Victoria Police has reaffirmed its commitment to zero-tolerance enforcement on the state’s roads, warning that officers will continue to patrol “anywhere, any time” to target risky and unlawful driving behaviour.
The operation highlights the ongoing dangers on Victorian roads and serves as a stark reminder for all drivers to prioritise safety, responsibility, and compliance with the law.
