The heartbreaking moment that a family member is told a loved one has been killed is at the centre of the Transport Accident Commission’s pre-Christmas safety push. Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford joined the TAC and Road Safety Victoria to urge Victorians to think about their loved ones and the ripple effect of the choices we make on the roads. So far in 2019, 257 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads, including eleven people already killed in December. “This campaign lays bare the awfully sad moment that more than 250 families have faced this year as a result of the death of a loved one on Victorian roads.” Minister Pulford commented “The holiday season is about spending time with our loved ones, not grieving in their absence, and we do not accept that any family should have to be confronted with a tragic door knock this Christmas.
“It’s critical that we all make safe choices this Christmas and that includes slowing down, putting our phones away and avoiding drowsy driving and drink driving – the best gift we can give our loved ones is just to be there.” Transport Accident Commission chief executive Joe Calafiore commented.
Mr. Calafiore said that with Christmas and the summer holidays presenting a busy, high-risk time on Victorian roads, it is critical that the community rallies behind road safety across the festive season and into the New Year. Mr. Calafiore added that a new online TAC campaign highlights the devastating moment that a family member of a loved one killed in a road crash receives a knock on the door by police. The online ads are based on the TAC’s existing ‘Knocking on Doors’ campaign, which Victorians are also seeing on their TV screens in the lead-up to Christmas.
Minister Pulford said that last year, 14 people died on Victorian roads from the start of December to Christmas Day, and another three people lost their lives between Christmas and the New Year. The Minister went on to point out that the Andrews Labor Government is urging all Victorians to make safe choices this Christmas by planning ahead, taking rest stops on long drives and planning a safe way home from festive celebrations.
Mr. Calafiore explained that the TAC will have a strong presence across the state these holidays, including an interactive display at Melbourne’s Southbank and a tour of regional Victoria starting tomorrow that asks people to make a safety pledge ahead of Christmas. Mr. Calafiore also pointed out that TAC road safety teams will also be at more than 50 regional events, including festivals and race meetings, providing safe driving advice, free breath tests, giveaways and more in a bid to curb the number of people being killed on country roads. At the same time a TAC-funded enforcement program will help deliver an increased police presence with additional shifts on Victoria’s roads during the festive season.