Emergency services hit social media with five gruesome road safety videos as toll soars

A new social media campaign to remind motorists to stay safe on our roads focuses on the “fatal five” which contribute to the bulk of crashes. SEE THE VIDEOS >>

• Twenty-seven Tasmanian lives lost on our roads in nine months
• One dead after New Town car crash in peak hour traffic

A NEW social media campaign to remind motorists to stay safe on our roads focuses on the “fatal five” which contribute to the bulk of crashes.

The campaign includes five short videos featuring first responders from Tasmania Police, Tasmania Fire Service, State Emergency Service and Ambulance Tasmania.

They stress the need to slow down and drive to the conditions; to pay attention and avoid distraction, to not drive while tired, to wear a seatbelt or helmet and to not drive while drunk or on drugs.

Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Mark Shelton said the message needed to be driven home.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Mark Shelton. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“Unfortunately, there had been more fatalities on our road this year compared to last year in serious accidents,” he said.

“And of course, what that does is not only affect the families and the people of those victims of the accidents, but it also affects our first responders.

“I urge all Tasmanians to watch these new videos and think about the devastating consequences that can occur if they make the wrong choice on our roads.”

Tasmania Acting Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said any approach which would save lives was worth pursuing.

“We had 56,000 Tasmanians getting speeding tickets last financial year is completely unacceptable.

“We’re seeing more serious crashes on the roads, more people dying in our roads this calendar year.

“I just don’t think the message is getting through to Tasmanians that we must slow down.

“So perhaps this different strategy that we’ll use to compliment strategies is already in place, using the small clips on social media that will pop up when people are on one of the social media platforms might assist in getting the message through.”

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