AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) has formed an important partnership with Towards Zero for the next three years to help promote their focus on road safety actions and to ultimately see no more lives lost on Territory roads.
The Towards Zero Road Safety Action Plan (Towards Zero) is a five-year plan which the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics has developed through extensive community consultation.
This weekend’s Round 11 NTFL action will roll out with some special Towards Zero messaging, which comes as a timely reminder heading into the Christmas break.
The three-year sponsorship sees Towards Zero with a strong presence on official AFLNT and NTFL social media channels, sponsoring the popular Play of the Round weekly segment along with the Towards Zero Friday Footy Show.
Signage billboards have been erected at TIO Stadium and all main football ovals where the NTFL is played with the messaging; “Together our goal is zero deaths and serious injuries – road safety is everyone’s responsibility” as a visual reminder to footy players and spectators alike. Billboards will also be erected in Alice Springs before the 2019 CAFL season.
AFLNT CEO Stuart Totham said he was proud to have Towards Zero on board as a corporate partner and to work together to help deliver an important community message.
“Towards Zero is an important initiative in our community and is an extension of the good work already being done through our Michael Long Learning & Leadership Centre program to deliver road safety messages to the footy and broader community.
“So many Territorians are being seriously injured on our roads each year. We’ve had many families in our football community affected and we want to share the message that this is not OK and we each need to do our bit to help reduce these statistics," he said.
“The Towards Zero campaign encourages everyone to work together towards a safer road transport system where no one is killed or seriously injured and this weekend our NTFL players will wear yellow armbands to honour those who have died on Territory roads and to spread the message to act responsibly on our roads.”
“It’s simple - drive safe. There is a lot more to lose than a game of footy,” Totham added.
Acting Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Nicole Manison said the partnership with AFLNT was an important initiative to raise awareness about road safety, and to encourage people to practice safe driving on our roads.
“On average, around 45 people die and over 500 people are seriously injured on Territory Roads each year, leaving families and lives devastated,” Minister Manison said.
“A large portion of the Territory’s road trauma is related to people making poor choices – like drink driving, drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving at high speeds.
“Road safety is a team effort, and our partnership with AFLNT will see a Towards Zero Road Safety action plan to improve road safety in the NT over the next five years.
