A re-created car crash scene has been set-up in Melbourne as part of a Transport Accident Commission (TAC) campaign reminding people to drive safely this holiday season.
Head of Road Safety at TAC, Samantha Cockfield said the Commission joined Victoria Police to deliver the summer-holiday safety message and launch the display, which is an extension of the enforcement-focused campaign The Lucky Ones Get Caught.
Ms Cockfield said authorities were calling on Victorians to play their role in keeping the roads safe this holiday season, with millions expected to travel across the State to visit loved ones.
“This Christmas, more than 230 families across Victoria will mourn the tragic loss of a loved one due to road trauma,” Ms Cockfield said.
“It is up to all of us to make good decisions when behind the wheel and help keep the roads safe for everyone,” she said.
“We’re asking all road users to slow down, put the phone away, wear a seatbelt, and don’t drink or drug drive – it’s never worth the risk.”
Ms Cockfield said the campaign highlighted the tragic reality of dangerous driving and the critical role police played in preventing road trauma.
She said the campaign’s television advertisement was re-launched earlier this month, depicting a young family in a car with the driver intermittently speeding.
“After narrowly avoiding being caught by police, the driver becomes distracted, loses control and they roll down an embankment,” the Head of Road Safety said.
“The display in St Kilda features the wreckage of the car from the ad, with onlookers asked to scan QR code to watch the scene before them rewind until the car is back on the road, where an alternate ending shows the lucky driver being ‘caught’ before disaster strikes,” she said.
“Unlike this campaign, in reality, we don’t have the option to press rewind when something goes wrong on the roads – make sure you’re thinking ahead and consider the impact of your actions on yourself and others.”
Ms Cockfield said the display would be at St Kilda’s South Beach Reserve 15 – 17 December before moving to Ballarat’s Bridge Mall from 19 – 20 December.
