Surf Coast Times & Bellarine Times

The 10,000 Victorians who signed up to slow down on the roads this summer were applauded by Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Minister Gordon-Rich Phillips at the MCG for showing their commitment to road safety.

The TAC Slow Ball Challenge, launched on December 12 by Premier Ted Baillieu, was fronted by Melbourne’s two Twenty20 Big Bash teams – the Stars and the Renegades. The Facebook campaign called on sports fans everywhere to sign up to slow down on the roads, and share their commitment with their mates.

Over four weeks almost 10,000 Victorians – mainly young men – took part in the challenge. At the end of the campaign two winners, rewarded for their efforts in gaining the most online support for slowing down, were presented with $5,000 each and given the chance to play a game of Slow Ball cricket on the MCG.

Mr Rich-Phillips congratulated the winners, Jenny Nixon from Camberwell and James Green from Anakie, before the Melbourne Stars Big Bash match, and said the winners and all other entrants had shown leadership and commitment to slowing down and looking after their mates.

“While this might seem like a fun, light-hearted campaign, every Victorian who entered the Slow Ball Challenge has taken a serious step towards helping reduce trauma on our roads,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

Last year, 79 Victorians aged 16 to 25 were killed on the roads, including 35 drivers and 29 passengers.

“We know young people are over-represented in road trauma and we must continue to try new ways to reach them with the road safety message,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

“Empowering young people to speak up if they feel their mates are doing the wrong thing in a car is one of the most important steps we can take towards lowering the road toll.”

The Slow Ball Challenge was developed by the TAC and the Victorian Coalition Government to encourage young people to speak up.

“We are committed to saving lives on Victorian roads and we urge the wider community to share that commitment,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.