Jazz Festival Celebrates 10 Years Sponsorship

27 Jul 2005

Media Release - 27 July 2005

The Minister for the Transport Accident Commission, John Lenders, today launched this year’s 2005 TAC Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.

Mr Lenders said the partnership between the TAC and the festival had flourished over the last decade and raised the profile of road safety in north eastern Victoria.

“During the last ten years, the festival has grown in stature attracting talented local and international acts,” Mr Lenders said.

 “The partnership between TAC and the festival has been recognised many times, most notably for winning the Australian Business Arts Foundation QantasLink Regional Award in 2003." 
 
“The true success of this sponsorship can be measured by the change in the driver behavior of festival patrons and people from Wangaratta."

“Since 2002 there has been a 46% decrease in the number of people caught drink-driving in Wangaratta by booze buses - this compares with a 12% decrease across the state."

“The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz can’t take all the credit for that because enforcement has undoubtedly played a part, but TAC sponsorship of this popular event is a powerful way to drive home the drink-drive message."

“The Bracks Government is working to keep our streets and towns safe.”

Mr Lenders said there had also been a fall in road trauma during times when people were traditionally drinking.

“In 1995, 12 people lost their lives on Wangaratta roads during high risk alcohol times and in 2004 this number was halved,” he said.

“During the same times there has been a reduction in the number of people seriously injured from 115 in 1995 to 95 in 2004."

“However any loss of life or serious injury is still tragic and we can’t ever afford to be complacent.”

Throughout the festival: signage and free breath testing facilities are present at all main venues, coffee breaks operate at rest areas, a designated driver program is held and Wangaratta taxis have an incentive promotion for people catching cabs to and from venues.

The TAC has the following advice for patrons attending the festival:

Before setting out:
• ensure you’ve had adequate sleep for several nights prior to a long drive
• avoid travel at times usually spent sleeping; and
• don’t drink alcohol before the trip.

During the festival
• if you’re drinking, make sure you eat regularly
• make an effort to alternate your alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones
• remember that your blood alcohol level can continue to rise after you have stopped drinking; and
• excessive drinking the night before can have an impact on your blood alcohol content the next day.

Victoria’s road toll currently stands at 209 down from 211 for the same period in 2004 (a decrease of 1%).