Media statement
December 2013
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Get tested or get busted
Falls Festival and Road Safety Advisory Council want everyone attending the
festival to get home safely.
That’s why Road Safety Advisory Council volunteers will again provide
breath testing for patrons every day of the festival and on New Year's Day.
RSAC Chair Jim Cox said the breath testing gave people the opportunity to
see how their body processed alcohol.
“Everyone is different,” Mr Cox said. “Two people can drink and eat the
same amount over the same time and have different readings.
“Getting breath tested will help people understand the effect of the amount
they have had to drink and their reading and to make a more informed
decision about drinking on New Year’s Eve before driving home on New
Year’s Day.
“It is an important issue, not just after a festival, but every time you get up
the next morning after a big night out.”
The Falls Music and Arts Festival Founder Simon Daly said the festival was a
celebration of music, arts and community.
“We don’t want anybody’s enjoyment to be ruined on the way home
because of unsafe driving,” Mr Daly said.
“With a crowd of 16,000 people, the Falls Music and Arts Festival takes a lot
of drivers off the road at a peak time of the year and allows them to
celebrate without driving home.
“We really hope that patrons will be sensible and use the breath testing
facilities to help them gauge if they should be driving and they can apply
the knowledge gained, at the festival as well as in the future.”
The Falls Music and Arts Festival will host a Recovery Breakfast BBQ on New
Year’s Day at the Marion Bay festival site so patrons can rest, avoid traffic
and queues and enjoy the food, fun activities and voluntary breath testing
before going home.
“We would much rather that if people thought that they were over the limit
that they relax at the festival grounds until they are safe to drive,” said Mr
Daly.
Mr Cox said time was the only thing that reduced a person’s blood alcohol
level.
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The voluntary breath testing site will be open from 8am to 12noon on the 31st
December and between 7am and 1pm on the 1st January in the Field Stage
arena.
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A few tips from the RSTF:
If you're drinking, make sure you eat regularly
Make an effort to alternate your alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones
Your blood alcohol level can continue to rise after you have stopped
drinking
Take your time getting home and stop for a break or two along the way so
that you are not driving when you are tired
Excessive drinking the night before can impact on your blood alcohol level
the next day
A number of organisations including the Sorell Council, Tasmania Police, the
Falls Music & Arts Festival and the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and
Resources are working together to ensure the best possible flow of traffic to
and from the festival.
Traffic controls will be in place to assist not only patrons but the general
public.
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Drivers are urged to:
Drive safely and courteously to and from the festival
Plan your trip (including toilet stops at public toilets) and take a bag and
contain your rubbish until you find a bin
Expect delays, don’t rush out on January 1st and visit the RSTF stall on site for
a free breath test
Non-festival patrons are urged to avoid peak festival traffic times which will
be heading to Marion Bay on Friday 29th afternoon and evening, Saturday
30th in the morning and the most significant concentration of traffic
occurring on the morning of January 1st as patrons exit the Marion Bay site
Police will be conducting random breath testing on departure