Country Victorians to meet ‘Graham’ in world-first road safety roadshow

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21 Jul 2016

Regional Victorians will be invited to get up close and personal with Graham - the face of a world first Transport Accident Commission road safety initiative.

The TAC yesterday launched its latest campaign, using the science of human evolution and vulnerability to encourage Victorians to think differently about road safety.

In a shift from its traditional road safety campaigns, the TAC has collaborated with a leading trauma surgeon, a crash investigation expert and a world-renowned Melbourne artist to produce ‘Graham’, an interactive lifelike sculpture demonstrating human vulnerability.

Graham has been designed with physical features that might be present in humans if they had evolved to withstand the forces involved in crashes. Studies have shown that the human body can only cope with impacts at speeds people can reach on their own, unassisted by vehicles.

TAC chief executive officer Joe Calafiore today announced Graham would next month begin a roadshow of regional centres.

“Reaching out to regional Victorians is a major priority for everyone involved in road safety because the fact remains we’re four times more likely to die on country roads,” Mr Calafiore said.

“By helping Victorians understand that their own vulnerability is at the heart of our road safety problem, we can help them to accept that their own choices are at the heart of the solution.”

Melbourne sculptor Patricia Piccinini worked with Royal Melbourne Hospital trauma surgeon Christian Kenfield and Monash University Accident Research Centre crash investigator David Logan to develop Graham.

After leaving the State Library of Victoria on August 8, Graham roadshow will visit the following:

  • Geelong Gallery (August 11 - September 15)
  • Bendigo Gallery (October 5 – October 30
  • Ballarat Gallery (November 02 – November 24)
  • Latrobe Regional Gallery (November 27 – December 15)
  • Mildura (September 15 – October 4)
  • Shepparton (date and venue TBC)

In an Australian first, Victorians will be able to use Google Tango, the latest in immersive augmented reality technology, to look beneath Graham’s skin and better understand how his unique features would work to cushion him from serious injury in a crash.

School curriculum has also been developed to enhance the learning experience for students visiting Graham in person or online.

“Graham is an educational tool that will serve the community for years to come as a reminder of why we need to develop a safer road system that will protect us when things go wrong,” Mr Calafiore said.

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