The safest bet for next week’s Geelong Cup is separating drinking from driving “altogether”, the Transport Accident Commission has tipped.
TAC road safety manager Samantha Buckis said planning a safe return home should be race-goers’ number-one priority if their cup day would involve drinking alcohol.
“We want everyone to have a great day out but, more importantly, we want everyone to make good choices and arrive home safely to their loved ones,” Ms Buckis said.
“In the excitement of the race day it can be hard for people to keep track of how much alcohol they’ve consumed, so the safest way is to completely separate drinking from driving.”
Ms Buckis said any blood-alcohol level impaired judgment and safe driving.
Drivers with a .08 level were five times more likely to crash and the risk was tenfold at .12, she warned.
“We know everyone will be planning how they’ll spend cup day and if that plan involves drinking it needs to include a safe way home.”
The TAC highlighted cup day public transport options including buses from South Geelong Railway Station to Geelong Racecourse at 30-minute intervals between 10.30am and 1.30pm; and buses from the racecourse to central Geelong’s via South Geelong station at 30 minute intervals from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
TAC staff will attend the cup to offer free breath tests, tea, coffee and water while also giving away Ticketek vouchers to punters who have planned a safe way home.
Ms Buckis said everyone could play an important role in reducing road trauma.
“We all need to take responsibility for our actions and look out for each other on Geelong Cup day and every other day if we want a future where no person dies or is seriously hurt on our roads.”
