AFL Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) are proud to this weekend bring Road Safety Round to the TAC Cup competition.
Across the state, over this weekend and in the days prior, we have made a concerted effort to bring road safety messages and issues to the forefront of all clubs, players, and supporters’ minds.
Reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads is a key priority and one that we are happy to support and contribute to. The facts are simple: Each year about 10 football teams’ worth of young men are killed on Victorian roads.
Each of these deaths is preventable, and via the TAC Cup we continue to do all we can to reduce that number.
In its 21st year, the TAC Cup has focussed its attention on the competition tagline ‘Speed Hurts’.
In line with the TAC’s goal to makes speeding socially unacceptable, players and coaches have been involved in activities to raise awareness of the dangers associated with speeding.
Every club has been or will be involved in the creation of a road safety advertisement based on one key issue. And, whether that issue be speeding, drink driving or driver distraction, the process of making these ads contributes enormously to educating all players about staying safe on the road.
Each week one of the ads will be aired on TAC Cup Future Stars, and by the end of the season the ads will be featured on the TAC Cup and TAC Facebook pages and You Tube accounts.
In addition, clubs have been involved in road trauma awareness sessions run by Norm and Leanne Robinson who lost their son Luke in a speed-related collision two years ago.
The feedback from clubs who have met with the Robinsons has been overwhelming – their story of grief and the message they deliver based on their personal, tragic experience is nothing short of powerful.
Combining these activities with the ongoing road safety program that all TAC Cup clubs deliver enhances the value of this partnership and reminds us all of the importance of keeping road safety top of mind.
This weekend provides another opportunity for all of us to reflect on our own driver behaviour and reminds us that road safety should, regardless of your age or place in the community, be your priority.
Good luck to all teams playing in this weekend’s Road Safety Round matches.
Janet Dore - TAC CEO
Last Modified on 24/08/2012 11:34