Award for young film makers takes on driver behaviour

12 Nov 2004

Media Release - 12 November 2004

Two short films made by young Victorians to highlight young driver behaviour will screen in cinemas this summer as part of the TAC's Make a Film, Make a Difference competition, the Minister responsible for the TAC, Rob Hulls said today.

The competition winners, 25-year-old Prateek Bandopadhayay and 22-year-old Callum Cooper use black humour and hip-hop music to explore issues around young people and driving.

"This year's winning films focus on mateship, the culture of 'showing off' and competitive behaviour among young people," Mr Hulls said.

"Both films - Only a Mate and Stand Still - make the serious point that drivers and passengers are responsible for their behaviour on the road."

The film competition is a vital part of the TAC's overall youth strategy aimed at reducing the number of death and serious injuries among young road users.

"Many young people have either been directly affected by road trauma or have been in situations where the outcome could just as easily have been tragic," Mr Hulls said.

In 2003, 73 young drivers and passengers, aged 16 to 25 years, died on Victorian roads. So far in 2004, there have been 68 deaths in the same age group.

While they account for only 14% of the population, young people aged between 16 and 25 years accounted for 25% of drivers killed and 40% of passengers killed on Victorian roads last year.

Mr Hulls said the film competition is a valuable addition to the existing collaborative efforts of Victoria Police, VicRoads and the TAC to prevent further deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

"The Make a Film, Make a Difference competition gives young people the opportunity to talk directly to their peers.

"The films that have emerged from the competition, don't tell young people what they should or shouldn't do. Instead, they encourage young people to think and talk to each other about the risks they face on the roads and what they can do to make things safer."

Each film maker received a $12,000 budget to make their film, a mentor within the film industry and a production grant towards their next project.

Victoria's road toll currently stands at 303 up from 286 for the same period in 2003 (an increase of 6%).

More information

Georgina Lyell 1300 654329