This year marks the 21^st year of partnership between the WACFL and the Insurance Commission promoting the Belt up road safety message on WA roads.

A major component of the partnership is the Belt up Round, which will take place across the state this weekend (18-19 May).  The round has a special significance for our 12,500 country football players, as many will know someone affected by a road crash. Players will hold a minute’s silence to remember those injured or killed as a reminder of the importance of safety on country roads.

All league footballs and player uniforms will carry the Belt up logo for this round.

WACFL Acting General Manager Brent Sheridan was hopeful this weekend’s fixtures would help make a change to driving behaviour on country roads. “The Insurance Commission is one of our largest supporters, as young men in country areas continue to be over-represented in crashes and its motor injury insurance claims.  Every year we hear of players who are injured or lose their lives on country roads and the devastation this causes to their mates, our clubs and the community is significant.”

Kane Blackman, Commission Secretary at the Insurance Commission, said the Belt up Round was an excellent opportunity to promote awareness in country areas of the importance of wearing a seat belt. In 2017 alone, 71 people who were not wearing a seat belt were killed or seriously injured on WA roads.

“It is frustrating that our claims numbers continue to be made up of so many young men in regional areas. A seat belt is the first line of defence for drivers and passengers in a crash, dramatically reducing the likelihood of death and serious injury,” he said.

“It’s also in the Insurance Commission’s interest for people to ‘Belt up’. Our organisation spent almost $400 million on injury claims from crashes in WA last year, which can put upward pressure on insurance premiums. If people have to talk to us they have generally been hurt in an accident but we’d much rather see them playing footy.”

To ensure extra promotion of the Belt up message to our Leagues and Clubs this year, the WACFL will celebrate the 21^st anniversary of the partnership with several competitions, including a chance to win tickets to AFL games.

ENDS....

For more information:

Brent Sheridan, WACFL Acting General Manager

M: 0400 477 406