$1.5 million partnership between Road Safety Commission and RugbyWA
12-month alliance will help tackle road trauma in WA
Western Force players to act as Road Safety Ambassadors across WA
Western Australia's premier rugby union team will now be known as the Road Safety Western Force after the Liberal National Government struck a $1.5 million partnership with RugbyWA to help promote road safety in WA.
Deputy Premier and Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey said the 12-month naming rights partnership offered the Road Safety Commission an opportunity to reach the rugby community, as well as regional and remote WA, with its road safety message.
The partnership includes Road Safety Commission naming rights, jersey branding, match day signage and advertising, and creates an opportunity to highlight the whole range of issues which contribute to road trauma in WA.
"In particular, we know that through sporting partnerships like this we can reach those men aged 19 to 59 who are disproportionately featuring in Western Australia's serious and fatal crashes," Ms Harvey said.
"The Road Safety Commission will recruit Western Force players as Road Safety Ambassadors to promote road safety initiatives in country areas.
"The Western Force has an impressive presence in regional WA, through community programs and regional tournaments, including in the South-West and Great Southern where 57 people lost their lives on the road last year."
The Deputy Premier said the partnership also presented the chance to change attitudes towards road safety within the community.
"The partnership will seek to reach those drivers who keep appearing in serious and fatal crashes, with an estimated 390,000 game attendees and TV viewers expected to be exposed to Road Safety Commission branding over the upcoming Super Rugby season," she said.
Ms Harvey said the partnership would be funded from the Road Trauma Trust Account, which had allocated a record $157 million towards road safety initiatives in 2016-17.
Fact File
The road safety message will be seen by about 390,000 attendees and TV viewers
Western Force has more than 100,000 social media followers
The per capita rate of fatalities has reduced 22% since 2008
The Liberal National Government commits 100% of speed and red light camera fines to the Road Trauma Trust Account
Deputy Premier and Road Safety Minister's office - 6552 5900
