ARL High School Arrive Alive Cup Sponsorship
22nd March 2007
Rugby league players will talk road safety to high school students under a Iemma Government program to reduce the road toll amongst young drivers called Challenging Attitudes to Risk (C.A.R.) – Arrive alive. In addition the Iemma Government will sponsor for another three years the Schoolboy rugby league competition’s Arrive alive cup, said Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation, Sandra Nori at the Sydney Football Stadium today. Three teams – Newcastle, Penrith and Manly – will be added to the Arrive alive program for the first time, joining the St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers, said Ms Nori. Ms Nori also welcomed the announcement that NRL players will visit local schools and talk to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to encourage safer driving and the consequences of risk taking. Sessions last about 50 minutes but are flexible to suit each school's timetable.
“Teenage road users are over-represented in road trauma data,” said Ms Nori. “Young male drivers are more likely to suffer catastrophic injury. “Each year around 125 people suffer catastrophic injuries in motor vehicle accidents– suffering quadriplegia, traumatic brain injury. “More than half are less than 25 years old at the time of injury,” said Ms Nori. “Arrive alive aims to reduce that terrible toll,” she said. “It is a program that relies on the support of rugby league teams and the hard work of people delivering services in our public sector. Arrive alive signage will also feature at club home games.
The continued sponsorship of the schoolboy rugby league competition – the Arrive Alive Cup – with 232 NSW secondary schools participating was also welcome news, said Ms Nori. Ms Nori said the Arrive alive football teams and the Arrive Alive Schoolboy cup were practical way of getting a safety message across to teenagers at risk. “Families with teenage children appreciate the need to get the Arrive alive message out to school students, said Ms Nori.