Victoria Police has launched a statewide road policing operation ahead of the AFL Footy Finals weekend, warning motorists that drink and/or drug-driving will face “zero tolerance” enforcement across Victoria.Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Mick Hermans addressed television media today, Wednesday 23 September 2026, alongside an operating roadside alcohol and drug testing site on Normanby Road, Southbank 3006.
The testing site was positioned inbound between Montague Street and Clarendon Street, outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, as police unveiled Operation Scoreboard.
The operation will run from 12.01am Friday 25 September 2026, until 11.59pm Monday, 28 September 2026, with police increasing roadside testing and high-visibility patrols across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Assistant Commissioner Hermans said there would be no excuse for anyone driving under the influence during the long weekend.
“There is absolutely no excuse for drink and drug driving over the AFL Grand Final long weekend, it is completely unacceptable, and an avoidable risk” he said.
Police are urging people heading to matches, celebrations and gatherings to plan their travel before drinking.
Motorists have been encouraged to leave their cars at home, nominate a designated driver, use public transport or arrange alternative transport rather than risk driving while impaired.
The operation will focus particularly on drivers affected by alcohol or drugs, with police warning that roadside testing can occur at any time and at any location.
The launch comes as Victoria Police continues to respond to a series of serious and fatal crashes across the state.
Recent incidents have included a fatal collision in Surrey Hills, where a vehicle crashed into a pole before striking another vehicle on Riversdale Road, and a double-fatality collision in Point Cook on 16 September 2026 where Rama Devi (mother) and Neha Gunna (wife) were bother killed.
Provisional figures reported earlier this month recorded 177 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2026, compared with 209 at the same point in 2025. However, police and road safety authorities continue to warn that every death represents a preventable loss and that serious injuries remain a major concern.
The heightened enforcement also follows the death of a 71-year-old motorcyclist on the Western Highway near Trawalla, amid broader community concern about road conditions and safety.
Operation Scoreboard will see police deployed on major metropolitan and regional routes throughout the long weekend, with enforcement targeting the behaviours most associated with serious crashes.
Those behaviours include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Excessive or inappropriate speed.
- Distracted driving, including mobile-phone use.
- Fatigue.
- Failing to wear a seatbelt.
- Dangerous and aggressive driving.
The roadside testing operation at Southbank provided a visible reminder to drivers entering the city that police will be actively monitoring the roads before, during and after the Footy Finals celebrations.
Lord Murray Schoorman of Peak Hour Images attended the launch at the invitation of Victoria Police and captured images of the testing site in operation, as well as Assistant Commissioner Hermans addressing Channel 9 Melbourne and 10 News Melbourne media crews.
Victoria Police say the safest way to enjoy the long weekend is to plan ahead and never get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs.
