The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is to educate regional Victorians on the dangers of drink driving under a new partnership with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) Roadshow.
Chief Executive of TAC, Joe Calafiore said the partnership would see road safety take centre stage at 27 shows across central and north eastern Victoria, the south west, and Gippsland.
Mr Calafiore said the drink driving figures were concerning and he hoped the partnership would draw more focus to road safety in regional areas.
“Too many people are killed on roads in regional areas, so we are here to highlight how locals can keep themselves and others safe on the roads,” Mr Calafiore said.
“The TAC is using its presence at the events to encourage attendees to separate drinking alcohol from driving altogether, promoting its message ‘Drinking. Driving. They’re Better Apart.’”
He said that with fewer public transport options available in regional towns, driving was a common choice when travelling to and from events.
“The best way to ensure people get home safely is to nominate a driver if they choose to drink or to stick with non-alcoholic beverage options to ensure they can drive safely for everyone,” TAC’s Chief Executive said.
“Drink driving is a major factor in Victorian road trauma and while the majority of people are doing the right thing, close to one in five drivers and riders killed on Victorian roads are over the legal limit.”
Mr Calafiore said drivers should understand that the easiest and safest way to avoid the risks was to completely separate drinking from driving.
“If you plan on drinking, then you should plan a safe way home that doesn’t involve driving,” he said.
