Police plead with drivers to finish 2017 safely after horror Christmas period

Top traffic cop Doug Fryer has pleaded with Victorian drivers to finish the year with zero deaths on the roads after a horror Christmas period.

12 people have died since Operation Roadwise was launched almost a fortnight ago, with a triple fatality at Point Cook on Christmas Eve among the worst of those.

Assistant Commissioner Fryer revealed on 3AW Drive two of those who died in the smash were brothers out taking a new car “for a squirt” when it smashed into another vehicle.

Meanwhile, more than 1000 drivers have been pinged for drug and alcohol offences over the 13-day period.

• 640 have been busted for drink-driving.
• 421 drivers have tested positive to drugs.

Asst Commissioner Fryer also addressed the major spike in deaths on country roads this year.

“The numbers are far too high,” he said.

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