WIMMERA POLICE have begun targeting poor driver behaviour, as two major events on Saturday are set to significantly increase traffic on the region's roads.
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Operation One Night Stand began on Friday and will run until Sunday evening.
Police launched the operation in response to this weekend's One Night Stand music festival in Lucindale, South Australia - about an hour's drive from the border - and district football league grand finals in Horsham and Lake Bolac among other areas.
Horsham acting Inspector and Local Area Commander Brendan Broadbent said police were targeting the Western Highway from Bacchus Marsh to Horsham, the Henty Highway from Hopetoun to Horsham and the Wimmera Highway from Horsham to South Australia.
He said they would be focusing on drivers who were speeding, drink and drug-driving or fatigued, and that the increased police presence would include the use of highway patrol vehicles and drug and alcohol testing sites.
"We're not having drug buses set up in relation to this operation, but certainly there will be a booze bus along the Western Highway," he said. "Our camera cars will be located at the times and places where we think the increased traffic flows will be."
Acting Inspector Broadbent said Wimmera motorists could expect more traffic on the roads from Friday afternoon, with festival goers likely returning from South Australia from midday on Sunday onwards.
Organisers expect the festival to attracted 20,000 people to Lucindale, a town of less than 600.
"In relation to football finals, people travelling to the junior and senior events could see peak times from Saturday morning, then again late in the afternoon," acting Inspector Broadbent said.
"Previous years have shown the football crowds have been generally well-behaved, but we still provide that visible presence to ensure people arrive safely and can enjoy the day."
Acting Inspector Broadbent said the operation coincided with Victoria Police's heavy vehicle unit targeting trucks in the region along the Wimmera and Western highways.
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