WORKING with young sportspeople to encourage a culture of looking after their mates is one way authorities are looking to reduce the state's road toll.
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Redan Football Netball Club recently ran the Looking After Our Mates program for its under-19 football players.
Club president Garry Goyne said a presentation was made to the teenagers, aged between 17 and 19, after a training session with a focus on reducing the risk of players being impacted by crashes caused by alcohol or other drugs.
"It is a dangerous time for kids when they first get their licence, or when their mates do, because they are also able to finally have a beer," Mr Goyne said.
"We thought it was important with this age group, particularly with the boys, to be presented with a few coping strategies in the drinking environment. So if they are going to a function, they know to plan to avoid the risk of a crash."
Mr Goyne, who lost three of his own mates in one accident when he was that age, said it was important to bring the issue of road safety to the front of players' minds.
"We wanted to help them to understand what road trauma and death can do to a group of people. It affects not just that person or their immediate family but a whole community. At our club, a lot of people have been affected by road trauma."
Mr Goyne said the teenagers were most likely to listen to their friends so encouraging players to look out for one another was a good way to impart the message.
"It's very important to give them the ability to say no," he said. " Mates are the people they listen to. Mates don't want mates going out there risking themselves."
The Looking After Our Mates program is a joint initiative of VicRoads, Road Safe Central Highlands and Victoria Police.
Acting Inspector Ben Young said the football and netball season was the perfect opportunity to appeal to sports clubs, whose community reach is wide, to run the program about impaired driving.
"Every year as the weather improves and the football and netball finals approach there is elevated collisions involving alcohol and drugs, unfortunately they often involve younger drivers," he said.
The program can be booked through the Road Safe Central Highlands office.
Also at the weekend, club captains wore striped socks and 0's on their jumpers during the TAC's Toward Zero round in an effort to raise awareness of road safety.
Contact Gerard Ryan on 0408 563 980 if interested in the program.
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