Young people to drive down road trauma

06 Sep 2016

A new road safety program will challenge Victorian youths to come up with a campaign to reduce the high number of young people who die on the state’s roads.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan today visited students at Federation University to launch the Transport Accident Commission’s Green Man Grants program.

Green Man Grants aim to address the disproportionately high number of young people involved in Victorian road trauma - encouraging people aged 18 to 25 to present ideas on how to make the roads safer for their peers.

Mr Donnellan said the program would make young people think about the important role they play in reducing road trauma.

“We want to encourage young people to think outside the square about ways they can get home safely every time they use our roads,” said Mr Donnellan.

Successful entrants will receive up to $50,000 to develop their idea further with the help of an industry mentor.

Up to 10 entrants’ ideas will be selected, with each to receive a $5000 cash prize after the completion of the project.

In the five years to the end of 2015, 22 per cent of drivers killed in Victoria were aged 18 to 25 – despite that age group representing just 13 per cent of Victorian licence holders.

The high number of fatalities can be attributed to inexperience combined with increased risk taking among some younger drivers.

Mr Donellan said the Government and its road safety partners were working Towards Zero, a future free from deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

“Addressing the unacceptable number of young lives lost on our roads is a major priority for us and we are working with the TAC to find new ways to do that,” Mr Donnellan said.

Entrants are encouraged to think creatively about ways to engage with their peers, whether it is through a smartphone app, short film, poster or any other medium.

Entries must tackle one of three themes:

• Vehicle safety
• Human vulnerability on the roads
• The responsibility all Victorians share in helping the state achieve its Towards Zero vision

The Green Man Grants are part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $156 million Young Driver Safety Package.

To enter the Green Man Grants visit www.greenmangrants.com.au by 6 October 2016.