RAC has joined forces with the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles football clubs to promote road safety, as it announces the new naming rights sponsorship of the RAC Derby.

RAC CEO Rob Slocombe said the sponsorship would be a platform to start a conversation with football fans and their families about the deadly impact driver distraction and inattention has on our community.

“Driver distraction is one of the leading causes of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which is why RAC launched the ‘Look Up’ road safety campaign last year to help encourage WA drivers to pay attention on the road and focus on their surroundings,” Slocombe said.

“WA currently holds the unenviable position of the worst road fatality rate of any mainland State in Australia, and this sponsorship will remind Western Australians that we all have a role to play in keeping people safe on our roads.

“It takes an average of five seconds to read a text message. At 100km/h, that’s like driving the length of Optus Stadium blindfolded.

“Tragically using a mobile phone behind the wheel is an act which 80 per cent of WA drivers admit to doing, despite 9 in 10 labelling it as risky.”

Mr Slocombe said WA’s football clubs and their supporters were an ideal audience to help encourage safe driving, so that we can save more lives and stop serious injuries on our roads.

“WA’s passionate football community know that paying attention to what’s in front of us is more valuable than gazing at our smartphones, and participating in one of WA’s most significant sporting events is an effective next step to take the Look Up message into a new road safety dimension,” Slocombe said.

“With support from the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles football clubs, each RAC Derby will allow road safety awareness to be taken directly to 120,000 spectators each year.”

Fremantle Dockers CEO Steve Rosich said the club was delighted to welcome RAC as an official partner of the club and naming rights partner to the RAC Derby.

“RAC has a long and proud history of supporting West Australians by making roads safer. This new partnership, which includes naming rights for the derby, allows RAC to have a direct conversation with our proud, loyal and passionate supporters across WA and nationally.

“Many Fremantle Dockers members are also RAC members and road safety is an important message for all West Australians. We are proud that the Fremantle Dockers can help RAC spread the word.”

The sponsorship with the clubs will allow RAC to provide further opportunities to engage members around this important road safety message, as well as providing money-can’t-buy experiences including the opportunity to toss the coin at the start of each derby.

The sponsorship supports RAC’s advocacy priority to create a safer WA. For more information visit rac.com.au/derby.