Road safety has scored another four under the continuing partnership between Queensland Cricket and the Queensland Government.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said renewing the partnership for a four-year term would expose more people to road safety messages across the Big Bash League (BBL), Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), community cricket and school competitions.
“Following a successful three-year partnership with Queensland Cricket, I am pleased to announce a new four-year agreement, which will continue to share road safety messages through year-round cricket events and activities,” Mr Bailey said.
He said the ongoing partnership locked in the Queensland Government’s summer road safety campaigns as the Innings Break Presenting Partner at all Brisbane Heat BBL home games until 2023.
“During the past two years, more than 300,000 people have seen TMR’s #LiftLegend and Plan B drink driving campaigns at Brisbane Heat BBL matches at the Gabba and Metricon stadium,” Mr Bailey said.
“Promoting road safety while people may be enjoying a few drinks at the cricket is a responsible and timely way to encourage everyone to get home safely to their family and friends.”
Mr Bailey said for the first time there would be a stand-alone season for the WBBL from October to December that would provide an extended opportunity to share road safety messages with crowds at local venues.
“More than 5600 people turned out in January at Harrup Park, Mackay, to support the Brisbane Heat WBBL team, the largest crowd in Australia for a WBBL match,” he said.
“I’m confident scores of cricket fans will turn out and show their support at this year’s WBBL matches in metropolitan and regional Queensland and sharpen their road safety knowledge at the same time.”
Mr Bailey said death and road trauma continued to be a major public health issue, with 245 people dying on Queensland roads in 2018.
“Reaching our vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on Queensland roads requires all of us to work together and commit to being safer and better on the road,” he said.
“Sharing road safety messages across all levels of cricket – from professional matches, to the Secondary School T20 challenge, to primary students meeting their cricket heroes during the annual Regional Tour – is just one way we are driving safer behaviour on our roads.”
Queensland Cricket chief executive officer Max Walters said QC was proud to partner with the Queensland Government to spread the word about road safety.
“The last three years of our partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads have been extremely valuable and well aligned with Queensland Cricket’s purpose of supporting Queensland communities,” Mr Walters said.
“Cricket is a sport played and enjoyed across every corner of our state, so ensuring our players, fans and volunteers get to and from games safely is of the utmost importance and a message we are proud to promote.
“We sincerely thank the Queensland Government for its continued support of cricket and we look forward to working together over the next four years to ensure Queenslanders remain safe on our roads.”
High-profile players from Queensland Cricket will continue to share road safety messages through Queensland Road Safety Week and school and community visits during the annual Regional Tour.
