The Transport Accident Commission has renewed calls for people to plan ahead and make safe choices when using the roads this Australia Day long weekend.
With school holidays wrapping up and many people expected to be traveling for the long weekend, it is set to be one of the busiest periods of the year on the state’s roads.
TAC Road Safety Lead Director Samantha Cockfield said a safe weekend on the roads started with planning ahead and separating drinking from driving.
“A good plan is the safest way to start a long weekend so, if you’re heading away, plan your journey to include breaks and make sure you are well rested before getting behind the wheel,” Ms Cockfield said.
“We expect roads to be busy across the state with people taking longer trips and attending social events, and with increased traffic comes a higher-risk of something unexpected happening.
“Our message is to avoid fatigued driving, slow down, and if your weekend involves drinking alcohol, leave the keys behind and plan a safe way home.”
So far in 2019, 12 people have already died on Victorian roads. Last year, three people were killed and 55 were injured in crashes across the Australia Day long weekend.
“It is a tragedy that we already have families mourning loved ones who have died on our roads this year,” Ms Cockfield said.
“Last year, Victoria recorded its lowest annual number of road deaths but we can’t accept any death or life altering injury as a result of using our roads.
“We need all Victorians to rally behind road safety in 2019 and make safe choices.”
Victoria’s $1.4-billion four-year Towards Zero Action Plan reached the half way mark in 2018, aiming to reduce the number of lives lost on our roads to fewer than 200 by 2020.
“We are committed to building on the progress we have made as part of our plan to achieve a future where no one dies on our roads,” Ms Cockfield said.
“While the majority of Victorian drivers and riders are safe road users, we need everyone to share the responsibility and make safe choices.”
For more information contact the TAC’s Alex White on 0419 529 505.
