Road Safety Issue: Drink Driving
Studies that have been recently conducted have shown an increase in alcohol consumption from kids by up to 14% since they were 19-20 years old. Another study also shows that people right after getting their licences have been getting into crashes, as well about one in five of them exceeding the legal drinking limit every month.
This is attributed to the fact that drink driving is risky driving; but younger drivers tend to engage with it due to the fact that it is considered an element of a ‘risky’ lifestyle. Studies have shown that early adulthood is a period of considerable risk taking, particularly because of the fact that now they have the ability to experience things they never could have done when they were younger without being questioned by the majority.
While the people who indulge in these activities are unaware of the after effects, it is found that those who drink drive, also start taking other risks, like driving without a seatbelt, driving while fatigued or tired and driving under the influence of an illegal drug, which results in accidents or lives being lost too early.
Sources of Information:
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/road-safety-commission/drink-and-drug-driving
This is a reliable website, because it is a government website. It also has access to different alcohol initiatives which support the idea that you should not drink and drive
Aim of the Campaign:
The aim of the campaign is to make sure that young people make the right choices. As we grow up and are exposed the world as well as given the ability to make independent choices, sometimes its the wrong ones we make that could end up being the reason for unimaginable things. There has been an increase in deaths especially in younger kids, because they engage in risky activities without knowing the risks, or because one of their friends do it, however don’t understand that they are only suffering. So our aim is to make sure that kids are reinforced with what will happen whenever you engage in risky driving.
Key Information:
The main information that we are trying to convey is that the after effects of drink driving is inevitable and by not doing it in the first place you risk the chance of getting into an accident. Not only that but it is something that is hard for experienced drivers so doing it in the first place at a young age increases your chances of getting into an accident.
Safety Message or Slogan:
Drive Hammered, Get Slammered – It is very direct but it is often the things that are very direct that can have the best effect. Not only that but it serves the message, you drive drunk, you increase the chance of getting into an accident
Medium to be used:
I used a poster, because of attention span. If I was to make a video, most people wouldn’t even bother watching, particularly because they are busy or just can’t be bothered, but if it is a still image that they scroll through and see this poster they can just see and process the information, rather than having to watch it
Communication approach:
The approach is to show the consequences, because most people do not really care about things unless they realise the harmful consequences it has, so by showing and reinforcing the consequences of drink driving, which can include losing your life, they hopefully understand and process that next time they think of doing it, because an image is more memorable.
What were the biggest things you learnt while completing this task:
Some of the biggest things I learnt was the amount of young people that get into accidents. I actually never knew that the amount of young people who get into accidents were so high, particularly because they do not focus properly which can be attributed to that risky lifestyle.
I also learnt that even experienced drivers have problems drink driving, driving while tired or without a seatbelt. This shows me that no one is really safe unless you do everything possible, even those who are experts in their field.
What piece of advice would you pass on to young drivers above all else? Why?
I would pass on advice to make sure you are always doing the right thing, because you cannot predict when something bad will happen. You want to make sure that if there was a flood, your house is protected so that you and your family are safe, so in the same way you need to make sure that you are protected when driving, because accidents are unexpected and can end up being dangerous.
Also because of how you wouldn’t want to be responsible for the death of someone else. In the worst case scenario, if you are driving with someone else, and you get into a crash, but they unfortunately pass while you still live, it will make you feel bad that you took a risk that resulted in the loss of someone else.
Write down a pledge you will commit to when you start driving. Why did you pick these things to commit to? How will you stick to commitments?
I will commit to not drink driving, or being distracted while driving. I picked these things because they are the most important things when driving. My parents are really busy, so when I get my license I know I will have to do things like dropping them of to church or taking them to different places, so I want to make sure that my parents are safe under my control while I am driving, in order to do that, I have to stick to these commitments. I will stick to them, by one giving my phone to my parents while I am driving, but also making sure that I don’t drink and that I am not driving too late at night.