Safe driving

Planning on taking the car to schoolies celebrations? Maybe you are going to share the petrol with your friend and travel together in one car? Or maybe you intend to hire a car when you get there?

It's great to have your own transport but it does have some consequences!

Did you know people in the first year of driving are more than four times more likely to be involved in crash than more experienced drivers, if more than one other person is in the car?

How can you make a difference?

If your friend:

• is driving stupid 
• had too much to drink or taken any drug 
• is speeding 
• is using their mobile phone

Tell them to stop!

Why? Because a lot of people are at risk:

• your friend 
• other passengers 
• other road users 
• pedestrians and,
• you

Drink driving

Here's some things you can do if your friend says they are going to drive and you know they've been drinking or taken any drug.

• tell them to get a taxi 
• call a responsible friend or family member to drive 
• hide their car keys 
• call the police

Fact! Young Victorians are almost four times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury crash than more experienced drivers.

Why? Unfortunately, the reasons include:

• not having enough experience 
• underestimating the risks 
• deliberately taking risks 
• combining alcohol and drugs with driving 
• having a limited ability and judgement

Don't let you or your friends become statistics!

Mobile phones

Mobile phones make contacting your friends very easy, but they can be killers. A driver using a mobile phone is four times more likely to 'run off the road' and crash.

Did you know if you use a mobile phone when driving your car your:

• reaction time decreases 
• ability to maintain speed and position on the road is affected 
• general awareness of other traffic is less e.g. ability to judge gaps when entering a crossing or a roundabout?

Why? Because, using a mobile phone usually involves doing other things such as:

• writing down phone numbers 
• writing down dates or notes in diaries 
• sending a text message

All of these tasks take your mind off the job of driving safely!