Ten people have died on local roads this year and police are pleading with drivers to ensure the carnage does not continue into Christmas.

As a state wide road safety operation was launched last week, the 10th fatality was recorded on local roads – the first time the statistic has reached double figures since 2007.

Baw Baw Highway Patrol sergeant Andy Milbourne said there were enough families facing Christmas with an empty chair this year.

The statistics show four drivers, two motorcyclists, two passengers, a pedestrian and a cyclist are among the fatalities.

The last time Baw Baw police services area recorded such a high fatality rate was in 2007 when 11 people were killed.

Added to this was 77 serious injury collisions, which Sgt Milbourne said was 19 more than last year.

Sgt Milbourne said this year’s fatalities and serious injury collisions were particularly disturbing given the long period people spent in lockdown and less traffic on roads.

Operation Roadwise will run until Sunday.  Police from state and local road policing units, general duties and other operational policing units will targeting driving offences in a targeted effort to take dangerous drivers off the road and save lives.

But the message from Sgt Milbourne is the same as every year – police can do only so much.

“Our message doesn’t change, it’s the same as every year but the attitudes need to change and so does people’s awareness

“The responsibility has to go back to the driving public.  As drivers, you have to be responsible for your actions.

“We don’t want to book people in the festive season but if people are stupid enough to do the wrong thing then we will book them.

“We’d rather them get to Christmas dinner or their holiday destination than be telling their families there will be an empty seat at the table,” he said.

Sgt Milbourne said while there was no common theme to the cause of this year’s fatalities, they were all local drivers.

“Some people have taken risky behaviour that has ended in tragedy or sometimes people aren’t fit to drive so if you have elderly relations make sure they are assessed for driving.

“Drivers can’t afford to have complacency,” he said.

There will be a focus on impaired driving and motorists can expect to see police alcohol and drug testing vehicles on local roads.

Sgt Milbourne said the number of drug impaired drivers on the road was increasing and there were a lot of repeat offenders.

“We need to get those impaired drivers off the road and get them help,” he said.

Operation Roadwise also will target speed, fatigue and driver distraction.

Drivers are reminded not to drink or take drugs if they’re planning to drive, and to use simple strategies that can reduce risks on the road, including driver reviver strategies to avoid fatigue, staying off mobile phones while driving, and being alert on unfamiliar roads.

The Operation Roadwise campaign includes a two-part video series where families and friends share precious memories of loved ones they’ve lost and detail the heartache of spending Christmas without them.

There are 227 families pictured with Christmas baubles inscribed with their loved one’s name and age in their honour.

Caption:

Local police are urging drivers to take care on roads this Christmas to avoid adding to the 10 lives already lost.  Baw Baw Highway Patrol Andy Milbourne, senior constable Paul Staley and constable Asha Dalton will be among the police patrolling local roads for speeding and impaired drivers.