Contrasting their slick, quick attacks on game day across their football and netball sides, the Bears are promoting slowing down when travelling by vehicle.
The club announced it would take active participation in the 2025 TAC Club Rewards Program, a statewide road safety initiative in collaboration with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and AFL Victoria.
The 2025 program has a heightened focus on the impacts of speeding, with the result of such driving behaviour unfortunately displayed in the past week in the Greater Shepparton region.
The club’s launch to join the initiative falls days after three people were hospitalised from a horror crash at Kialla as a result of excessive speeding.
However, the program also aims to highlight that going just 5km/h over the speed limit increases the risk of a crash by 44 per cent.
While the initiative provides the opportunity for involved clubs to receive up to $10,000 in funding for demonstrating meaningful efforts to promote road safety, reducing the recent road accidents in the Shepparton area and the state’s death count remains the firm focus for the club following the sharp toll rise.
Ten serious collisions resulting in nine fatalities occurred between Saturday and Monday in Victoria alone.
“As a club deeply connected to our community, we have a responsibility that goes beyond game day,” Bears president Brendan Bicknell said.
“We want to ensure that every player, coach, volunteer and supporter gets home safely.
“Road safety is everyone’s game.
“This is not just about funding, it’s about changing behaviour.
“It’s about slowing down, being alert and looking after each other — not just as teammates, but as mates behind the wheel.”
The Bears will lead awareness campaigns at the club surrounding the dangers of speeding, as well as other unsafe driving behaviours like tired and distracted driving and drink driving.
The club will also introduce social media initiatives #TACSloMo and #BandTogether, while its round 15 home game against Mooroopna will coincide with TAC Road Safety Round.
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