Victoria's deadly start to 2016

Victoria has had its deadliest start to a year on the roads, with 77 dead in less than three months - 24 of them motorcyclists.

Ahead of the Easter long weekend, police are turning their focus to motorcycle safety in a bid to reduce the road toll, after 19 riders were killed in February alone.

The overall road toll is 16 higher than at the same time last year.

At the launch of the Operation Nexus Easter road safety campaign alongside Assistant Police Commissioner Doug Fryer on Thursday, Premier Daniel Andrews urged motorists to be sensible.

"This is the most deadly start on our roads to a calendar year in 10 years, every Victorian must slow down, drive to the conditions and know your limits," Mr Andrews told reporters.

Mr Fryer said motorcyclists who died in 2016 were men aged between 18 and 75 - and all of their deaths were avoidable.

He said police would be out in force over the long weekend doing speed, drug and alcohol checks.