Vic: Operation Halo Nabs Nearly 4000 Offenders

Victoria Police's Operation Halo has so far recorded 3943 offences this month, with motorists making up the bulk of the penalties issued.

Launched earlier this month and running through to the end of February, the campaign is focusing on the danger of road trauma involving motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

The operation has seen around 100 police officers working each days across the Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra, Boroondara and Stonnington areas in peak commuter times at high-collision locations.

As part of the operation, police have detected:

• 368 pedestrian offences, including 337 disobey traffic light or sign.

• 427 bicycle offences, including 29 riding on the footpath and 139 disobeying traffic lights or signs.

• 309 motorcycle offences, including 131 riding in bicycle lanes, 22 disobeying traffic lights or signs and eight failing to indicate.

• 2839 car/truck offences, including 353 disobeying traffic lights or signs, 939 using mobile phone, 42 driving in bicycle lanes, 17 changing lanes or turning when when unsafe, 17 failing to give way.

"This operation is not about targeting specific road user groups. What we are targeting is the factors behind deaths and serious injuries involving vulnerable road users," State Bicycle Coordinator Sergeant Arty Lavos said.

“This includes pedestrians crossing against a red light, cyclists not wearing a helmet, motorcycle riders travelling in bicycle lanes and cars and trucks driving while using a mobile phone or failing to give-way.

Victoria's road toll stands at 47 - 15 higher than at this time last year. Of those, four have been cyclists, five pedestrians and six motorcycle riders.