HOLIDAYMAKERS are being urged to exercise caution and call out poor driver behaviour this long weekend, as visitors seek to cash in on warm weather throughout the North East.

Operation Arid will see additional police resources deployed throughout Wangaratta’s major arterials from early this morning, as police prepare for an expected influx in road users to the Wangaratta and Alpine regions over the Labour Day weekend.

Wangaratta Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant David Gillespie said the initiative, which follows a targeted Hume Freeway operation between Glenrowan and Wodonga earlier this week, aimed to cut out risk-taking behaviour throughout the weekend.

“We’ve obviously got the Hume Freeway which is the major arterial through the Wangaratta area, but there are a lot of events at Wangaratta and up in the Alpine areas this weekend,” he said.

“Police are well aware of the influx of traffic which is really good for tourism, but we also know we’ve got people recreationally camping and holidaying so we’re going to be out and about trying to keep our roads safe.”

Fatigued driving, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and driving while distracted or without a seatbelt are key offences Snr Sgt Gillespie said police would attempt to stamp out throughout the weekend.

He said while the long weekend would bring a spike in tourism, police were planning for high traffic in the region over the coming months in the lead-up to winter.

“The North East of Victoria has got the highest rate of tourism in Victoria already, so the fact we’ve got such good weekends coming up and people will be well aware of that in a couple of months’ time the weather is going to cool off and the weekends we’re experiencing now are not going to be the weekends we’ve got coming,” he said.

“People are going to make the most of the time right now, and that’s everything from motorcycling to bicycles, to visiting Alpine areas to visiting the river and everything else in between.

“We’re well aware the increased volume of traffic is going to continue for the next little while, not just on our long weekends, and we’re rostering and planning to address those risks to ensure people can enjoy it and be safe.”

The operation will run throughout the weekend before ending on Monday night.