Five motorists win Renaults for driving right

17 Mar 2004

Media Release - 17 March 2004

TAC Minister Rob Hulls today presented five Victorians with the keys to their new Renault Meganés as Drive Right 2 – a TAC program designed to reward safe and courteous driving – came to a triumphant close.

Mr Hulls said the program had attracted record numbers of participation from all parts of Victoria.

"More than 156,000 drivers and riders registered in the program, that's 6,000 more than last year and demonstrates very clearly how well received this program has been," Mr Hulls said.

"And when we look at the five major winners who will each receive one of the world's safest cars, we see just how broad and diverse the support for the program has been.

"They range in age from 31 to our most senior winner who celebrates her 67th birthday this week, and they all come from very different parts of the State."

The Drive Right 2 winners were Jillian Henderson (Aspendale), Timothy Reed (Yarra Junction), Celia Meekings (Ballan), Phillip Lancaster (St Leonards) and Phyllis (Joyce) Ashworth (Pakenham).

Mr Hulls added that, although the five winners were delighted with their prizes, 10,000 other Victorians and been spotted and rewarded throughout the program and the feedback from these drivers had also been overwhelmingly positive.

"The program was never just about winning a car, it was about making people think about how they drive and giving some recognition to the thousands of road users who do the right thing every day," he said.

"All the people who registered in this program did so because they recognised that they could make a personal contribution to keeping our roads safer, not just for themselves, but for others."

Major prize winner Phyllis (Joyce) Ashworth of Pakenham, said that when she registered in the program, winning a car was the furthest thing from her mind.

"I'm still having trouble believing it but it's certainly a lovely birthday present," she said.

"I just thought it was a fantastic idea and having always made an effort to be a good and safe driver, I wanted to be involved."

Mr Hulls thanked Victoria Police, the Metropolitan and Rural Ambulance Services, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the CFA for their contribution as official spotters.

"This was the combined effort of many in the same way that any gains we make in the road toll are the result of the effort of many," Mr Hulls said.

"We're very grateful for the assistance we have received from Renault and our road safety partners."