Why not Pause and stop at Newhaven?

The Visitor Information Centre at Newhaven will soon host a TAC Pause Stop, as part of a new partnership between the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC).

The partnership aims to tackle fatigue-related road trauma.

Newhaven is one of 11 accredited Visitor Information Centre locations to host the new Pause Stops, which will have a range of resources for visitors to help them plan a safe onward journey, as well as activities for the kids.

Bass Coast CEO Ali Wastie said the Pause Spot will start on July 15 and is part of a six-month pilot program.

“Our Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre is ready to encourage visitors to take a break when travelling and use the time to enlighten them about the places to see and visit while on a Pause Stop break.”

The state government is urging Victorians to plan ahead and drive safely these school holidays and beyond, as the number of lives lost on the state’s roads reaches 125, an increase from 104 at the same time last year.

Fatigue is a major cause of death and injuries on Victorian roads, with TAC research showing that driving while tired is a factor in around 20 per cent of road crashes.

“Fatigue remains a major factor in road trauma and partnering with VTIC to expand our popular Pause Stop campaign gives us the platform to help make millions of Victorian road trips safer every year,” said Transport Accident Commission Acting CEO Damian Poel.

The partnership will provide a unique platform for the TAC and VTIC to engage with the millions of people who stop at Visitor Information Centres each year on key road safety issues, such as drowsy driving.

The pilot Visitor Information Centres will also include Benalla, Bendigo, Dunkeld and Grampians, Echuca/Moama, Frankston, Geelong and Bellarine, Hamilton and Grampians, Heathcote, Melbourne Visitor Hub at Town Hall and Prom Country in Foster.

The pilot campaign will run until December and there will be a feasibility assessment into extending the partnership and including the entire network of 62 Visitor Information Centres across the state.

Travellers will be directed to the Pause Stop locations using the highly recognisable yellow i signage depicting Accredited Visitor Centres along key regional travel routes or online at www.tac.vic.gov.au/pausestop.