Melbourne Victory’s TAC commercials speak the road safety language

04 Oct 2013

Melbourne Victory fans are urged to slow down in six different languages in the latest collaboration between the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and the A-League team.

The new campaign features French, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Greek and English, as six Melbourne Victory players explain in their native tongues how control is just as important on the pitch as it is on the roads.

Launching the campaign at AAMI Park today, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Nicholas Kotsiras said the multilingual ad will be screened at Victory home games this season and as part of SBS’s A-League television coverage.

“Speeding is the cause for around 100 deaths on our roads each year,” Mr Kotsiras said.

”This new commercial is a fresh and innovative way of telling Victorians, no matter what language you speak, that slowing down and staying in control on the roads is vitally important.

“The TAC’s partnership with Melbourne Victory has given us this opportunity to communicate with culturally and linguistically diverse audiences across Victoria,” Mr Kotsiras said.

The players featured in the advertisement are Adama Traore (French – Ivory Coast), Andrew Nabbout (Arabic), Gui Finkler (Portuguese), Francesco Stella (Italian), Kosta Barbarouses (Greek) and Mark Milligan (English).

Another new advertisement reminding fans of the ‘Slow Down and Stay In Control’ message, features new Victory captain Mark Milligan controlling the ball on-pitch in slow-motion.

Milligan, who is about to fly to Europe with the Socceroos for Australia’s coming friendly games, will wear Number 5 this season, coinciding with the TAC’s recent Wipe off 5 speed campaign.

“Speed continues to be one of the major causes of fatal crashes in Victoria and I’m proud to help TAC share this message encouraging young Victorian men to slow down,” Mr Milligan said.

“Young men aged 18 to 35 form the majority of the Victory fan base and this is why our partnership with TAC is so important, to help reduce tragedy on our roads,” he said.

The launch coincides with the start of the A-League season and a new three-year agreement between TAC and Melbourne Victory to the end of the 2015-16 season.

Reducing speed is one of the key actions of Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy 2013-2022. To view the Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan, visit roadsafety.vic.gov.au

For more information contact Nick Price on 0439 433 847.

The advertisements can be viewed at www.youtube.com/tac

Pictured below: Melbourne victory players with Multicultural Affairs Minister Nicholas Kotsiras and TAC CEO Janet Dore