ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
‘I Just Need Space’ is a road safety campaign that uses humour, ‘slang’ and a space-inspired visual style to encourage 17–25-year-old drivers to maintain safer following distances on the road.
The campaign centres around the phrase “I just need space” – something often said when someone is being too clingy or getting too close. By applying that phrase to driving, the campaign reframes tailgating as a familiar social behaviour, turning a standard road safety message into something more playful, relatable and memorable for young drivers. The space theme strengthens the concept by giving “space” a double meaning: the physical distance drivers should leave between vehicles, and the social phrase itself. The selected Re:act 2026 campaign at QUT, I Just Need Space aims to make a serious road safety message feel current, engaging and hard to ignore.
Tailgating may seem harmless, but it can have dangerous consequences. Rear-end crashes caused by following too closely are one of the most common crash types on Queensland roads, making up one-third of crashes. Leaving space between you and the vehicle ahead gives you more time to react, brake safely and avoid a collision
why space matters
The easiest way to drive safer is to leave a 2-second gap between you and the vehicle in front in normal conditions. If it’s wet, dark, or visibility is poor, increase that gap even more. A simple way to check is to pick a fixed point on the road ahead, like a sign or power pole. When the vehicle in front passes it, count “One Astronaut, two Astronaut” before you reach the same point. If you get there too soon, you’re too close and need to give them more space.
WHAT YOU CAN Do
LOOK AHEAD
2 SECONDS
LEAVE SPACE
About the creator
Created by QUT Art student Lais Perske, 'I Need Space' was the selected Re:act 2026 campaign at QUT in Queensland.
As someone who is in the target audience, the program felt especially personal. Researching young drivers meant reflecting on my own generation, my own habits, and the kind of messaging we actually respond to. It made me realise how powerful relatable language and humour can be in road safety campaigns, and how a phrase like "I Just Need Space" feels funny, familiar and genuinely relevant to our age group.
