When the Calder Cannons under-18s played at Morwell a few weeks ago, the club encouraged all the boys with learner driver permits to drive the 180-kilometre trip.
Football manager Meg McArthur said the club wanted the players, most aged 17 and 18, to get their driving hours up, and the trip to Morwell provided an opportune chance for driving practice. “We encouraged all the boys to drive and get hours under their belt.”
The TAC Cup football competition has had the Transport Accident Commission as its major sponsor since its inception in 1992, so it’s little wonder road safety has been drilled into the league’s teenagers.
Each year the TAC runs a competition for all 12 clubs to produce the best road safety advertisement. Short videos are uploaded to the TAC Cup’s Facebook page and the clip to receive the most ‘likes’ is named the winner.
Ms McArthur has been involved in the initiative for eight years and says it sends an important message to novice drivers while giving them experience in front of a camera.
Northern Knights players drew on their acting skills recently to remind viewers to stay safe when driving in the dark. Knights’ talent manager, Peter Kennedy, said it was important to feel comfortable driving at night in winter.
TAC road safety project co-ordinator Samantha Buckis said young drivers made up only about an eighth of Victorian licence- holders yet accounted for almost a quarter of road trauma across the state.
Details: www.facebook.com/taccupfooty
