Peers help prevent risky driving on Victorian roads

03 May 2013

Media Release: 3 May, 2013

Young people are being called on for short film ideas to challenge their mates to look after each other, with this year’s Make a Film, Make a Difference (MAFMAD) competition now open.

The 11th annual MAFMAD competition, run by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), will challenge the way young drivers think and act.

TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore said involving young people in campaigns was the key to ensuring the road safety message was getting through to young drivers.

“We’re looking for creative and credible ideas on this year’s theme Your Mates’ Life is in Your Hands, to encourage young people to look out for each other on the road and give them the confidence to speak up if they feel unsafe, as a driver or passenger.

“The more passengers in a crash, the greater the chance of someone being killed or injured, so it’s important that all young people understand how they can speak up in dangerous situations,” Ms Dore said.

Ms Dore said asking Victorians to look after their mates seemed like a simple task, but road trauma remained the biggest killer of young people in Australia and worldwide.

In Victoria last year, there were 64 fatalities among young people aged 18 to 25 years and 34 of these were driver deaths.

“Through the MAFMAD competition, we want to empower young people to create a short film that will cut through and send a message that enough is enough – we just can’t accept this senseless loss of life,” Ms Dore said.

The TAC’s launched the MAFMAD competition at ABC Central Victoria’s studio in Bendigo on Friday, with the help of the mobile cinema Vanessa.

Vanessa appears at music festivals and events across Victoria to share the road safety message where young people may be at risk of drink or drug driving and will be at Groovin’ the Moo this weekend.

Victorians aged 25 and under can enter MAFMAD, with the best two short film ideas receiving a $25,000 production budget, mentor help and $5,000 prize money. The winning films will be screened in cinemas, on TV, at music festivals and on TAC’s YouTube channel.
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Find out more about MAFMAD at mafmad.com.au or on the MAFMAD Facebook page.

Increasing community awareness of the dangers of speed and distractions are priority actions in Victoria's new 10-year Road Safety Strategy. To view the Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan visit roadsafety.vic.gov.au.

For further information please call Nick Price on 5225 7738 and 0408 523 772.

Captions:
Photo 1: The Vanessa bus in Bendigo was a great attraction as part of the MAFMAD competition launch.
Photo 2: TAC Vanessa bus representative Samantha Collins explaining the many features of the Vanessa bus