NSW’s top cricketers will continue to play a role in delivering important road safety messages to fans across the state after the NSW Government extended its partnership with Cricket NSW for a further three years.
The ongoing partnership was announced at the Cricket NSW Season Launch at Centennial Parklands, where players from the NSW Blues, NSW Breakers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder showed their support for the continued initiative.
Bernard Carlon, Executive Director of the Centre for Road Safety, said the partnership has helped the NSW Government deliver important road safety messaging across the state for many years.
"Thanks to education and enforcement, we have been able to cut the number of lives lost to drink driving over the years but alcohol remains a leading factor in NSW road trauma with 56 people killed and more than 400 seriously injured last year," Mr Carlon said.
"Our partnership with Cricket NSW uses the power of sport to deliver meaningful community engagement that empowers people to make the right decisions The road is no place for excuses – if you’re drinking, don’t drive and make sure you have a Plan B to get home safely.
"We know the partnership is achieving what it needs to – last year we saw 93% of NSW fans who were exposed to the ‘Plan B’ message were more likely to have alternative arrangements to get home safely when planning to drink.
"I thank Cricket NSW for continuing to champion the Plan B drink driving message as valued road safety ambassadors. We look forward to making our partnership even stronger and continuing our important work together over the next three years to save more lives on our roads."
Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones said the partnership is a great example of the shared vision for the type of culture they want to develop across the NSW community and within sport.
"Going out, like going to the cricket, is about having fun and returning home safely. We are extremely proud to promote the Plan B message across NSW as part of the Government’s outstanding Toward Zero road safety campaign.
"Remember, if you are planning to drink, you need a Plan B."
