General News
18 April, 2026
110 offences detected as police conclude Gather Round road blitz
WIMMERA police detected 110 offences during Operation Constellate, including four alleged impaired driving offences, as officers concluded a major road safety campaign targeting Gather Round traffic along the Western Highway.
Acting Senior Sergeant Shaun Allen said police in the region also conducted 628 preliminary breath tests during the five-day operation, which focused heavily on the key corridor between Beaufort and the South Australian border.
The local results form part of a wider statewide effort, with Victoria Police detecting 764 offences, including 444 speeding offences, 26 drug driving offences and 13 drink driving offences from 3302 preliminary breath tests.
More than half of all offences recorded across Victoria were for speeding, with the majority of drivers caught travelling between 10km/h and 25km/h over the limit — a trend police say continues to drive road trauma, particularly on regional roads.
Operation Constellate ran from April 9 to 13, with a highly visible police presence across major arterial routes and feeder roads as thousands of motorists travelled to and from South Australia for the AFL Gather Round. Victoria Police also worked alongside South Australia Police to maintain enforcement on both sides of the border.
Road Policing Acting Superintendent Sarah Carmichael said while most motorists made the trip safely, the number of offences detected remained concerning.
“Speeding was particularly prevalent, and it’s no coincidence that speeding is the leading cause of road trauma, particularly on the state’s regional roads,” she said.
In the lead-up to the operation, Mr Allen said the Western Highway would be a key focus, with highway patrol cars and motorcycles targeting speeding, fatigue and seatbelt compliance — all factors that continue to contribute to serious crashes.
He said fatigue remained a particular concern given the long distances involved, with drivers urged to plan ahead and take regular breaks.
During the period, a fatal truck crash at Minimay claimed the life of a 58-year-old South Australian man, though Mr Allen said the incident was not related to Gather Round traffic and did not occur on the Western Highway.
Police say enforcement will continue in the coming weeks, with another statewide road policing operation planned ahead of Anzac Day.
Read More: Ararat, Beaufort, Buangor, Great Western, Stawell