Victoria’s football and netball communities, including those from Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, will rally behind road safety this week, donning blue armbands to honour people killed on Victorian roads and affirm a shared goal to reduce road trauma.
The fourth annual initiative running across the state from July 21-23 will see thousands of Victorians from country and suburban football and netball leagues ‘Band Together’, wearing blue armbands to honour those lives that have been touched by road trauma and to promote road safety in their communities.
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 affected by road trauma.
This year, 165 people have been tragically killed on Victorian roads with road deaths in regional areas a continued concern with 94 fatalities this year compared to 73 at the same time in 2022.
The number of young Victorians aged between 21 and 39 who have died on the roads has risen by more than 20.
The TAC and AFL Victoria’s Road Safety Round provides a platform to speak directly to the thousands of Victorians traveling hundreds of kilometres on the state’s roads for games and training every year.
Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne said every life lost on Victorian roads is one too many.
“The impact of these tragedies on local communities across our state is devastating,” she said.
“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.”
