The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has teamed up with Surfing Victoria for a new partnership aimed at discouraging young people from using a phone while driving.

With Victoria’s iconic Bells Beach as a backdrop, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) will be at next week’s World Surf League event, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, with a targeted new campaign highlighting the dangers of distracted driving to more than 35,000 surfing fans.  

The interactive campaign, featuring taglines ‘The Text Can Wait’ and ‘No Txt, No Wrecks’, takes a light-hearted approach to draw an association between the idea of texting while surfing, resulting in crashes and wipe-outs, and the dangers of phone use while driving.

Mobile phone distractions are a major contributor to fatal and serious injury crashes on Victorian roads, with the risk of being involved in a crash more than doubling when a driver is distracted for just two seconds.

A two-second glance at your phone while driving in a 50km/h zone could mean travelling blind for 28 metres, while the distance increases to 55 metres when travelling at 100km/h.

Victorian surfers regularly travel to beaches on the state’s regional road network, which consistently has higher rates of fatal and serious injury crashes.

TAC research shows that younger demographics are also more likely to use their phones while behind the wheel, with 55 per cent of 18–25-year-olds, and 66 per cent of 26–39-year-olds, admitting to the behaviour.

The TAC’s presence at the Rip Curl Pro will include an interactive activity where participants attempt to play video game, Kelly Slater Pro Surfer, while being challenged by distractions, like a mobile phone placed in the middle of the screen, text message notifications and phone call ring tones.

The Allan Labor Government is investing more than $1.1 billion until 2028, including $350 million in new initiatives, to help prevent serious crashes to keep Victorians safe.

Quote attributable to Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant

 “It only takes a short glance to miss what’s happening on the roads and choosing to pick up the phone while driving is putting everyone at risk.”

“Safe driving is everyone’s responsibility, and it is the simple decisions like deciding not to pick up the phone that will save lives and reduce crashes.”

Quote attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO, Tracey Slatter

“The TAC is always looking for new and innovative ways to reach key audiences, and our new partnership with Surfing Victoria allows us to promote safe driving at a truly iconic event, the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.”

“We know that mobile phone distractions are a major contributor to road trauma and this new campaign is a unique and engaging way of reminding people of the dangers.”

“Driving is a complex task that requires our full attention, so the best way to avoid being distracted by our phones is to put them away altogether or activate the ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’ function.” 

Quote attributable to Surfing Victoria CEO, Adam Robertson

“We are proud to partner with the TAC and help spread road safety messages to surfers and surf fans across the state.”

“We know that surfers spend a lot of time driving searching for waves. This campaign will help drive awareness of the risks of distracted driving.”