$400,000 partnership between old WA Football League and Road Safety Council unveiled

16/3/97

Transport Minister Eric Charlton has unveiled a $400,000 partnership over two years between the old WA Football League and the Road Safety Council to promote the message of road safety.

The WAFL, which begins this season as Westar Rules, will spearhead a new campaign to help raise awareness of road safety in the community.

Mr Charlton said Western Australia has one of the worst road safety records in the nation with 248 people killed on our roads last year.

"Tragically, a high proportion of those killed are young people and a spate of accidents over the past month involving young sports people has highlighted the problem," he said.

"Dealing with the problem is something the Government, police and road traffic authorities cannot do on their own.

"We need strong community support in both the city and country.

"For the past year we have been searching for a new focus and by far the most imaginative concept we have seen has been presented by the new Westar Rules.

"Football is by far the biggest sporting and social activity in Western Australia and has a wide exposure throughout the State.

"We will use this vast community network to spread the message of road safety."

Mr Charlton said the safety campaign would include press and television advertising, signage, involvement by Westar Rules clubs and players with Roadwise road safety committees, involvement by clubs in local safety issues with police and at schools, half-time match activities promoting road safety and player involvement in media safety promotions.

"The Road Safety Council will provide the sponsorship for the campaign in return for the Westar Rules-driven community safety program," he said.

"I think it is a particularly good concept given many of the Westar Rules players come from and will play in the country during the year.

"The concept was presented to me in December. It was examined and endorsed by the Ministerial Council on Road Safety in February."

Media contacts: Steve Manchee 481 2133 or 018 097 260

Rod Evans, Director of Road Safety Promotion 231 2620 or 0412 028 287