'Be present' with your family this Christmas is the road safety message adopted by Victoria in the lead-up to Christmas.
People can visit the Transport Accident Commission's ‘Be Present’ display at the Melbourne Christmas festival at City Square – where they’ll be able to dress up in Christmas costumes and pose for photographs to be made into Christmas cards and shared on social media.
The cards will remind Victorians that the best thing they can give their loved ones this Christmas is to be there.
‘Be Present’ will also tour regional and suburban carols events and is part of an effort by the state’s road safety agencies to keep Victorians safe on the roads.
The TAC will have a strong presence in regional Victoria these holidays as country Victorians are four times more likely to be killed on the roads than in metropolitan Melbourne. Teams will be at more than 40 regional events, including festivals and racing meets, providing safe driving advice, free breath tests, giveaways and more to prevent more lives being lost on country roads.
At the same time, money fast-tracked from a new $12 million TAC-funded enforcement program will help deliver the most visible police presence with an additional 1,300 police shifts on Victoria’s roads leading up to Christmas.
“We’ve had too many lives lost on our roads this year and that’s why we’re asking all Victorians to ‘Be Present’ this Christmas, ” said Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“We’re urging all Victorians to make good choices before they get behind the wheel this Christmas and reminding them the best gift they can give is just to be there.”
“We know this time of year means more Victorians are on our roads, taking longer trips to see family and friends and that’s why we’re asking you to plan your journey, take breaks, don’t speed and arrive safely.”
