Vic police to tighten rules on pursuits

Victorian police will be chasing fewer fleeing cars.

But new rules restricting police chases aren't likely to tempt more offenders to abscond, the state's top traffic cop says.

Draft rules on pursuits were prepared after coronial reviews of 10 fatal police pursuits in recent years, Assistant Commissioner for Traffic Bob Hill says.

Mr Hill says evidence from other jurisdictions showed restricted pursuit policies did not lead to greater lawlessness on the roads.

"What it's resulted in is ... a safer environment for the broader community, a safer environment for our police members and a safer environment for that fleeing driver," Mr Hill told reporters on Thursday.

Police regularly confront drivers who try to bait them into starting pursuits, including one last weekend who repeatedly drove by police cars at more than 150km/h in suburban Frankston.

He said police made the right call and did not pursue the man, believing the risks too great to themselves, the offenders and the public.

Mr Hill will not release details of the policy until it has been approved by incoming Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, who starts on July 1.

A spokesman for the Police Association said the union would not comment until it had seen the final policy.