Netball WA Supports Belt Up Campaign

Netball WA has partnered with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (Insurance Commission) for the sixth year to help support and promote its’ ‘Belt up’ road safety campaign.

The campaign will see Netball WA help distribute almost 7,000 Belt up-branded netballs to senior community netball teams across Western Australia, with the goal of encouraging seat belt use to reduce the severity of injury in a car accident.

It is anticipated the Belt up netballs will be distributed to more than 1,200 teams in regional and metropolitan areas and will also feature on a bespoke netball to be used at the NAIDOC Carnival.

Insurance Commission Chief Executive, Rod Whithear, said this partnership will help deliver an important road safety message to WA.

“It’s frustrating for us at the Insurance Commission to assess motor injury claims from people badly hurt in car crashes where it’s clear they weren’t wearing a seat belt,” he said.

“That behaviour, unfortunately, results in more serious injuries, which can have lifetime consequences for them and their families.

“By working with Netball WA, we can get this important road safety message out to the community.

“Lessening car crash trauma leads to better outcomes for the injured person while helping keep motor injury insurance premiums more affordable for all drivers,” Mr Whithear said.

Netball WA Chief Executive Officer, Simon Taylor, said he is grateful for the Insurance Commission and its long-running support of grassroots netball.

“The Belt up message will again literally be in the hands of thousands of netballers across Western Australia,” Mr Taylor said.

“Netball is played in every major town across the state and we want these Belt up balls to be a reminder to all of our participants to stay safe on our roads.

“Our purpose is advancing netball, advancing communities, and we’re proud to continue to raise awareness of such an important campaign,” he said.

In 2017 alone, 71 people who were not wearing a seat belt were killed or seriously injured on WA roads.