Nominate your ultimate road crew this festival season

Published date: 14 Nov 2023

Victorian music lovers are being asked to assemble their Ultimate Road Crew, as part of a new campaign encouraging the separation of drinking and driving this festival season.

The Transport Accident Commission and Victorian music festival, ALWAYS LIVE, have today launched the Ultimate Road Crew – a competition on the look-out for the unsung heroes of friendship groups, who get everyone home safely at the end of the day.

Music, theatre and television icon Natalie Bassingthwaighte and rising soul and pop star Budjerah will lend their voices to the campaign, inviting attendees to nominate the people close to them who prioritise safety.

The campaign promotes the various roles people can play in ensuring they and those around them get home safely, including as the designated driver; the public transport planner; or the friend who offers their couch as an alternative to driving home.

Victoria has had a devastating year on the roads having already surpassed 2022’s total lives lost, with more than 250 people losing their lives.

TAC Chief Executive Officer Tracey Slatter said it was a critical time to look out for each other on the roads and that a safe plan to get home should be at the top of everyone’s essential festival checklist.

“Many Victorians will be looking forward to spending the warmer months enjoying live music with their friends and loved ones, and we want everyone to make it home with fantastic memories,” Ms Slatter said.

“Our partnership with ALWAYS LIVE aims to build a culture within the live music industry that values road safety by prioritising safe travel options,” she said.

People who enter the competition go into the running for a wide range of prizes, including dozens of rideshare and travel vouchers, and a major prize pack valued at $4000.

In an effort to gain a deeper understanding from attendees on their personal road behaviours, entrants will have another opportunity to be rewarded by completing a survey from the TAC.

ALWAYS LIVE CEO Steve Smith said the festival was all about celebrating music, community, and safety.

“We’re proud to partner with the TAC for the second year running for their Keep the Band Together initiative, and shine a light on the friend who keep our nights fun and safe,” Mr Smith said.

The TAC first partnered with ALWAYS LIVE in 2022, providing a unique opportunity to increase awareness of key road safety issues such as drink-driving, fatigue and distractions with high priority road user cohorts, such as young drivers, and those living in regional and rural Victoria.

The partnership’s overarching message, Keep the Band Together, is a call to concert audiences to think about their loved ones and make safe choices on the roads

People can nominate their friends to win a range of prizes including ride-share vouchers by visiting alwayslive.com.au/roadcrew and sharing a short story about how their mate has saved the day.