Road safety on the silver screen

SINCE this year began, four people have died on roads in the Ballarat region according to the TAC, with one of those drivers between eighteen and twenty-file years old.

In 2020, 25 claims involving hospitalisation of people in the same age group were made following road accidents.

These incidents are usually caused by speeding, fatigue, distractions, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

To improve road safety and decrease these statistics, the State Government is encouraging young aspiring filmmakers to pitch a creative movie idea that could raise awareness and save lives, as part of the fourth Split Second Film Competition.

“We’re offering aspiring filmmakers the chance to produce a 45-second film and have it shown on the silver screen,” A TAC spokesperson said.

“The TAC has partnered with Village Cinemas to offer a $70,000 production budget… to create a film that addresses low-level speeding or drink driving, which remain significant causes of injuries and deaths on our roads.

“This year’s winner will work with prestigious production company Sweet Shop to bring their film concept to life and receive $5000 prize money.”

The winning entry will be screened during the pre-movie ads at Village Cinemas until January 2022.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said young people know how to share key messages in creative and innovative ways.

“We’re hoping to tap into that creativity to empower young people to connect with their peers and send a powerful road safety message that save lives,” he said.

TAC CEO Joe Calafiore said the organisation wants to find new ways to connect with the public.

“This competition has proven to be a fantastic avenue to connect directly with those young people and encourage them to think about their behaviour on the road,” he said.

Entries can be made at tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/split-second until Monday 9 August.