Four-legged friends put ‘paws’ on road trauma

01 May 2015

'Let it slow', 'Wake me up before you go slow' and 'You can slow your own way' are among the musical pleas Victorian pets are making in a new TAC online campaign encouraging people to slow down on the road.

Social media users who post a photo of their pet and include the hashtag #bestinslow in their Instagram and Twitter posts will have their pet transformed into a decorated, singing popstar.

By sharing these photos on their social media accounts, people will be spreading the message that life is better - and safer - when you slow down.  

TAC head of community relations Joe Calafiore said this new online venture was an alternative way of encouraging people to stick to the speed limit.

"Speeding is one of the biggest killers on our roads, contributing to around one in three road deaths in Victoria," Mr Calafiore said.

"Pets to most of us are like family and don't want to see their loved ones get hurt. #bestinslow is a light-hearted approach to getting people to stop and think about their behaviour on the road, with a serious message that speed kills.

"Life is often better if we take things a little more slowly, so if you have a dog, cat or another pet, upload a photo and tag #bestinslow," Mr Calafiore said.

Well-known identities who love their pets have already jumped on board, including presenter Lauren Phillips, Cats ruckman Hamish McIntosh, music icon Molly Meldrum and pyjama king Peter Alexander.

This is the first time the TAC has run a campaign exclusively on social media, with a particular focus on reaching younger drivers, who continue to be over-represented in road trauma.

The #bestinslow playlist has been specifically designed to cater for the younger audience, with tracks based on those from popular artists Kanye West and LMFAO. There is something for everyone, however, with classics from Fleetwood Mac to The Eagles.

The campaign is live and will run until Wednesday 6 May.

For more information visit www.bestinslow.com  and follow @bestinslow on Instagram and Twitter.

Lauren Phillips dog singing

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