TAC MILESTONE PROMPTS WAKE UP CALL TO DRIVERS

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10 Dec 2009

MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday, 10 December 2009

Premier John Brumby today reminded all Victorians of their responsibility to drive safely, as TAC marked 20 years of road safety campaigns and drivers across the state switched their headlights on for road safety. 

Speaking at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where the first TAC advertisement was filmed, Mr Brumby reminded all Victorians that reducing road trauma was a community effort.

"Today, Victorians have shown their commitment to road safety by Shining a Light on Road Trauma," Mr Brumby said.

"This is a sign of the commitment of the whole community to help reduce deaths and injuries on our roads."

Mr Brumby also launched a montage of the most memorable TAC images from the past 20 years, to be aired across the commercial networks just once, after 8.30pm tonight.

"These powerful images send a strong message about the devastating effects of road trauma on so many Victorian families," Mr Brumby said.

In 1989, the year when the first TAC advertisement aired, 776 people were killed on Victorian roads.  Since 1989, more than 8200 people have died on the roads. Of those 3740 were drivers, 1872 were passengers, 1500 were pedestrians, 944 were motorcyclists and 238 were cyclists.

Mr Brumby said this year Victoria was on track to record the lowest road toll in history, but so far 274 people have already lost their lives.

"The road toll has reduced dramatically in recent years, but hundreds of families are still losing loved ones on our roads. Thousands more are seriously injured," Mr Brumby said.

"We need to remain vigilant and take our responsibilities on the roads very seriously."

TAC Minister Tim Holding said the reduction in the road toll was a combined effort of the TAC's public education campaigns, police enforcement and improvements in road rules and road safety.

"The powerful images of the TAC campaigns have ensured that people across Victoria sit up and take notice of the devastating impacts of road trauma," Mr Holding said.

"The reality is that the real life impacts of road trauma are far worse than anything we will ever see in a TAC advertisement.
"The Government has worked hard to keep the road toll low and there is no room for complacency now.

"People need to take their driving responsibilities very seriously, especially over Christmas."

For further information contact Amanda Bavin, TAC Senior Communications and Media Adviser on 5225 6591, 0439 567 249.

The Ad is available for viewing on TAC's You tube channel or on TAC Safety pages 

 

 

 

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