TAC and Victoria Police end the party on the roads this Christmas

23 Nov 2012

Party time is over on the roads this Christmas as the TAC and Victoria Police band together to reduce further deaths on the roads.

With history showing an increase in fatalities towards the end of the year, the Victorian Coalition Government is reminding the public that the roads are not the place to party as Christmas festivities get underway.

Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips said a new TAC campaign invited all Victorians to a party hosted by Victoria Police and uses party imagery to emphasise the enforcement activity planned over the next two months.

With references to invitations (fines), dress ups (uniforms), straws (breathalysers), lollipops (drug testing kits), loud music (sirens) and other party imagery, the advertisement reminds people that it’s not a party people want to attend.

The message of the campaign, The Party’s Over, is delivered by Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Robert Hill, in his first appearance in a TAC advertisement.

Mr Rich-Phillips said the new approach was designed to capture the attention of the community at a critical time.

"The road toll is now close to the same time last year and thousands of people have been injured already. Together with the Victorian community we want to see all Victorians kept safe on the roads for the rest of 2012," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

"This campaign and the TAC’s partnership with Victoria Police will remind the community that while this might be a time for celebrations, the party doesn’t continue on the road."

"As the Assistant Commissioner says in the ad, ‘if you drink or take drugs and drive, if you speed or drive unlicensed, the party’s over’," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

Historically, the last 12 days of the year have resulted in the highest road fatality per day rate with an average of 13.4 deaths – 1.12 deaths per day, compared to an average of 0.86 (based on the eight year average 2004-2011).

To view the new TAC ad, see below or visit http://youtu.be/yHX07-jsuzc