New road safety campaign puts careless drivers on notice

Published date: 08 Mar 2024

Victorian motorists who flout the law are on notice, with a new road safety campaign highlighting the importance of police enforcement in reducing road trauma.

The Transport Accident Commission has launched a new public education campaign highlighting police presence on the roads, warning motorists that if they put themselves and other road users with at risk by doing the wrong thing, they will be caught.

A new television ad is central to the campaign, which uses the tagline ‘Anywhere, Anytime, Anyone’, showing how widespread police efforts are targeting dangerous behaviours like speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelt non-compliance and mobile phone distractions.

The campaign comes as 52 people have already died on Victorian roads so far this year – a reduction on the 64 lives lost at the same time in 2023, but still a tragic number of road deaths in just over three months.

So far in 2024, a concerning trend has emerged on weekends, with 20 fatalities on Victorian roads occurring on Saturdays and Sundays (40%) compared with 12 lives lost on weekends at the same time last year.

With the traditionally busy Labour Day long weekend approaching, road safety authorities are urging motorists to slow down, plan ahead, take breaks on road trips and show care for others by making safe choices.

Victoria Police will have a strong presence on the state’s roads across the long weekend, with Operation Arid taking a zero-tolerance approach to all dangerous road behaviour.

The new TAC campaign will feature prominently across all advertising platforms until May, reminding Victorians that police are out to keep our roads safe every day of the year – not just in holiday periods – ‘Anywhere, Anytime, Anyone’.

Quotes attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO, Tracey Slatter:

“We know that police enforcement is one of the strongest deterrents when it comes to keeping our roads safe and this campaign is about reminding us that if we do the wrong thing, we will be caught.”

“With this new campaign, the TAC is ramping up efforts to highlight how important Victoria Police are in reducing road trauma and keeping our roads safe.”

“Too many people are losing their lives on our roads because of poor choices, so we’re asking Victorians to show care for each other – slow down, don’t drive on drugs or alcohol, put your phone away and buckle up.”