Community Clubs to 'Band Together' for Road Safety Round

Victoria’s football and netball communities will rally behind road safety this week, donning blue armbands to honour people killed on Victorian roads and show a commitment to reducing road trauma.

The fourth annual TAC & AFL Victoria Road Safety Round will run statewide July 21 -23, seeing thousands of people from country and suburban football and netball leagues ‘Band Together’, wearing blue armbands to honour all lives impacted by road trauma and to promote road safety.

Players, coaches, volunteers and supporters from more than 1000 AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs will wear the bespoke armband, which features a QR code linking people to an online hub of stories from people impacted by road trauma.

This year, 165 people have been tragically killed on Victorian roads – a 28% increase on the 129 lives lost at this time in 2022.

Road deaths in regional areas are a continued concern, with 94 fatalities this year compared to 73 at the same time in 2022. The number of people aged 21-to-39 who have died on the roads has risen by more than 20.

The TAC and AFL Victoria’s Road Safety Round provides the perfect platform to speak directly to the thousands of Victorians travelling hundreds of kilometres on the state’s roads for games and training every year.

Road Safety Round is just one aspect of the TAC’s long-standing partnership with AFL Victoria, with the TAC Club Rewards Program offering clubs up to $10,000 for their efforts in promoting safe driving behaviours throughout the season.

More information:

• More about Road Safety Round: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/band-together/band-together
• More about the TAC Club Rewards program, which gives all AFL Victoria-aligned clubs across regional Victoria and in the metropolitan leagues the opportunity to take part and earn up to $10,000 in funding by promoting road safety to their community: https://www.aflvic.com.au/tacclubrewards 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne:

“Any life lost on Victorian roads is one too many. The impact of these tragedies on local communities across our state is devastating.”

“Road Safety Round is an opportunity for clubs to honour those impacted by road trauma and have important conversations with their members about the role they play in keeping our roads safe.”

Quote attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO Tracey Slatter:

"Victorian football and netball clubs are often at the centre of their communities and we are proud of the way Road Safety Round is embraced by the clubs, and how it empowers players and members to have life-saving road safety conversations with their peers.”

Quote attributable to Head of AFL Victoria, Ben Kavenagh:

"Road safety is so important and relevant to every Victorian and with community football players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters spending considerable time driving – Road Safety Round presents the ideal platform to convey a powerful message.”