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"Don't be a dickhead!" Basically, it is a road safety campaign in Victoria State that calls young drivers ''dickheads'' for talking on their phones and not wearing seatbelts while driving has been slammed as inappropriate and divisive.
Australian Roads Minister, TIM Pallas has added a new portfolio to his roads, ports and major projects ministry named "dickheads".
Last Friday night, Lewis Hamilton was stopped by police following free practice in Melbourne last week, for performing a smoky 'burn-out' in his new silver Mercedes sportscar not far from the city's Albert Park circuit. The 25-year-old McLaren-Mercedes star was admonished for his driving – for which he later issued a public apology – and had his car temporarily impounded, and will likely later face a fine for his actions.
As due to the incident, the Red Bull Racing rival Mark Webber waded into the row by calling his homeland 'a nanny state'.
It sounds like a joke to me, but when is a dickhead not a dickhead? The story goes on...
Mr Pallas was willing to use the word to tag the former F1 World Champion 'a dickhead' in radio station 3AW by saying "Okay, I'll say it - he's a dickhead".
But by the afternoon, in front of television cameras, he had turned coy.
Journalist: ''Is Mark Webber a dickhead?''
Pallas: ''My view about any particular race driver and their personal qualities I don't think is really the key … anybody who takes action to undermine the road safety message is doing the wrong thing.''
Journalist: ''Is Lewis Hamilton a dickhead?''
Pallas: ''From my perspective he has acted inappropriately.''
Journalist: ''Do you have the courage to back this campaign by actually telling them they're dickheads?''
Pallas: ''It's more important that we reinforce the message here.''
Journalist: ''So he was a dickhead this morning but he's no longer a dickhead now?''
Pallas: ''The pejorative language suited then and it suits now.''
Hang on, didn't he just call Mr Hamilton a dickhead? :P
Anyway, check out the new ads which the government 'hopes' will be viewed.
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