Tackling tourist carnage

State unveils $100k campaign to educate overseas drivers

THE State Government will unveil a campaign to target international drivers just days after one overseas motorist died and another fights for life following two crashes on a popular tourist road near Geelong.

The $100,000 campaign will see educational material rolled out into hire cars and social media sites.

The Visiting Driver Road Safety Program, to be unveiled by Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren today Eren said the program would see safety messages delivered to drivers via bilingual videos, digital advertising, social media and materials within hire vehicles.

“The Visiting Driver Road Safety Program will help international drivers in Victoria have a safe trip while enjoying everything our great state has to offer,” he said.

“Tourists mean business growth and more jobs for regional Victoria, and we’re determined to ensure that everyone is safe on our roads during the busy summer period.”

In partnership with the TAC, Victoria Police and VicRoads, the $100,000 campaign will be based on the New Zealand international driver safety project and supported by major vehicle rental companies.

The program though, fails to address licensing concerns which allow many tourists with limited driving experience to travel on regional roads.

Mr Eren said the key messages of the program would include: KEEP left; PULL OVER to take photos and enjoy the scenery; JOURNEYS may take longer than you think. Allow extra time; TAKE hours; DRIVE within the limits and to the conditions; GET to know the road rules, signs and markings before you drive; EVERYONE must wear seatbelts; and AVOID distractions: do not use mobile phones or other devices while driving.

Victoria welcomed 2.8 million international visitors who spent $7.6 billion in the 12 a break every two months to September.

Last Thursday, the Geelong Advertiser reported a car, driven by a European man, collided with a truck on Cape Otway Rd after travelling on the wrong side of the road.

He later died in hospital. On Tuesday, a 35-year-old Beijing driver was flown to The Alfred hospital after being cut from her blue Corolla hatchback which was T-boned at the intersection of Cape Otway Rd and the Princes Highway at Mount Moriac.

She remains in a critical condition while four others escaped with minor injuries.