Winners of TAC’s Split Second comp announced
The winners of the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) annual Split Second Competition have been announced.
Back by The TABOO Group, the competition – in its sixth year – gives young Victorian storytellers an opportunity to create road safety messaging. This year saw a major expansion to the competition, which also had a greater focus on reaching culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
The focus of this year’s competition was on seatbelt usage and driving tired.
Fatigue accounts for 16% to 20% of fatal crashes involving young Victorians, while more than 130 drivers and passengers killed on Victorian roads in the last five years were not wearing a seatbelt.
“These are real issues,” Samantha Cockfield, TAC’s executive general manager of road safety, told Mumbrella last month. “Most young people do know the road rules quite well, but presenting this key information is a way that’s really accessible will make all the difference.”
This year’s winner are aspiring creatives Rhys Delios Callanan and Olivia Hartanto, who will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize and $35,000 production budget to bring their visions to life.
They will collaborate with TABOO and Truce Films on production in the coming weeks, before their films will be premiered at a special screening in February 2025.
Callanan’s creative concept, titled ‘Fashionably Late’, speaks to driving tired and how a quick pit stop nap can help reduce fatigue and ultimately decrease the chance of drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
It focuses on the simple days of the horse-and-carriage era while leaning into the fashionably late phrase transforming something negative into a positive.
“Winning the TAC Split Second competition is an incredible honour. I am so excited to turn my vision into something lasting and impactful among my peers,” he said of his win.
Meanwhile, Hartanto’s ‘Captain Buckle’ concept raises the importance of seatbelt usage through a witty and comedic story.
The introduction of a multicultural category garners fresh perspectives and celebrates the voices of more young Victorian creators.
Hartanto said: “The competition has given me a platform to share my voice and creativity on real-life scenarios. I can’t wait to collaborate with The TABOO Group and Truce Films to create my animation.”
Head of community at TAC, Jacqui Sampson, said both concepts will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on their audiences.
“Their creativity has the power to influence the attitudes and behaviours among their peers and make a change in road safety awareness in Victoria,” she explained.
“We’re constantly looking for new, innovative ways to get the road safety message through. It’s inspiring to see the efforts of these two young creatives – we’re excited to bring those ideas to life.”
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Lauren McNamara is the associate editor at Mumbrella, covering the agency beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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Jacqui Sampson
Olivia Hartanto
Rhys Delios Callanan
Samantha Cockfield
Taboo
TAC
The Taboo Group
Transport Accident Commission
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