12 Oct 2016
The Transport Accident Commission will be trackside at over sixty Country Racing events across Victoria to remind racegoers that the safest bet is to separate drinking from driving altogether.
TAC road safety manager Samantha Buckis said planning a safe way home should be racegoers’ number-one priority if their race day plan involves drinking alcohol.
“We want everyone enjoying the races to have a great day out, but more importantly we want everyone to make good choices and arrive home safely to their loved ones,” Ms Buckis said.
“In the excitement of the race day, it can be hard for people to keep track of how much alcohol they’ve consumed so the safest way is to completely separate drinking from driving.”
While it is legal to drive with a blood-alcohol level under .05, Ms Buckis said any level of alcohol in a person’s system impairs their judgment and their ability to drive safely.
Research shows drivers with a blood-alcohol level of .08 are five times more likely to have a crash than before they started drinking. At 0.12, their crash risk has increased tenfold.
“We know everyone will be planning how they’ll spend race day and if that plan involves drinking, it needs to include a safe way home,” Ms Buckis said.
On the day, TAC staff will be set up at exit points and trackside providing free breath tests, tea, coffee, water and giving away Ticketek vouchers to those who have planned a safe way home.
Ms Buckis said everyone has an important role to play in reducing the number of people being seriously injured and killed on our roads.
“We all need to take responsibility for our actions and look out for each other on race day and every other day if we want a future where no person dies or is seriously hurt on our roads.”
A number of public transport options are available to those heading to and from the event, for more information on this please contact your local racing club or the TAC.
Media queries only:
- Nicolas McGay, 0403 710 889 or Nicolas_McGay@tac.vic.gov.au
- Alex White, 0419 529 505 or Alex_White@tac.vic.gov.au
- Devon McGillicuddy, 0466 029 169 or Devon_McGillicuddy@tac.vic.gov.au
Please refer any other enquiries to:
- Online form
- Tel: 1300 654 329
- Email: info@tac.vic.gov.au