SafeAs - Stop the 4 O'Clock Knock! Road Safety Campaign

The SafeAs Road Safety initiative “Stop the 4 O'Clock Knock!” has been active since 1999. It promotes road safety for young drivers and passengers AND their parents/carers throughout New South Wales and the ACT. In that period SafeAs have held many public road safety seminars and in-school presentations. This site provides information about road safety, the seminars, presentations and multi media kits designed to Stop the 4 O'Clock Knock!

The title Stop the 4 O'Clock Knock! came from the very first seminar when a NSW Police Highway Patrol Officer told of having to knock on the door at 4am to deliver a death message. “It’s four in the morning and she (the mother) comes to the door. She looks in my eyes and knows, she already knows! Why else would we be there at that time of night? “ Senior Constable Peter Wallace NSW Police Highway Patrol

The chilling nature of police delivering bad news to parents of young people has a powerful effect on parents and young drivers alike and has become the benchmark from which the campaign has grown. This proactive campaign is focused on road safety for young and potential drivers by exploring the risks involved on the roads. It emanated from a personal experience by Frank Bottomley, the founder and main speaker, when his teenage stepson was involved in a major motor vehicle crash. Frank needed to do something! He decided to hold a road safety seminar so undertook a great deal of research in order to ascertain the best way to attack the problem. Being a Victorian, Frank was well aware of the TAC campaigns in Victoria and so approached that organisation for assistance.

The first seminar expected less than 150, but Frank was overwhelmed when 430 people attended. Needless to say the evening was an outstanding success, and it was this success that prompted the ongoing campaign. Frank's approach to road safety awareness, his connection to the audience, his seminars and multimedia kits lead him to believe the program has made a difference in the lives of those who have attended our seminars.