Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy member, Joseph Redfern is the first player selected as a winner of the Slater & Gordon Safe Driving award.
The Slater & Gordon Safe Driving award recognizes those players that have demonstrated impressive on-field leadership for the U18 NSW/ACT Rams in the U18 National Championships.
Redfern was selected following a strong performance for the U18 NSW/ACT Rams in the recent game against Northern Territory in which Redfern was selected amongst the best players and kicked one of the Rams’ six goals.
Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy manager Lachlan Buszard said Joseph was an outstanding choice for the Slater & Gordon Safe Driving program and his experience in the program will help educate others.
“Joseph is a tremendous young footballer, who shows great courage and determination on the football field, as had been shown in his impressive performances in the NAB U18 National Championships,” said Buszard.
“Joseph is a leader among our Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy program and this opportunity will help him further his driving awareness skills. Joseph drives home to Wagga Wagga in the school holidays so the impact that this type of experience can have is positive.
“It is important to continue to develop our kids off the field and this initiative, and with Joseph having been effected by roadtrauma in the past it will prove invaluable.”
Slater & Gordon senior motor vehicle accident lawyer, Genevieve Henderson, congratulated Joseph on his achievement and looked forward to him learning valuable driving skills.
Ms Henderson said that the firm often represented young people who had to live with the impacts of being involved in a serious motor vehicle accident and was hopeful that more young people will take up driver training.
“It’s a particularly sad case when a young person’s life has been changed as the result of a car accident,” Ms Henderson said.
“We’re committed to promoting safer driving for young people in the Western Sydney area and that’s why we’re proud to sponsor the Slater & Gordon Safe Driving award.
“If you can teach people safety from the start, it’s a much better outcome for all road users.”
The Slater & Gordon Safe Driving award is an initiative of both Slater & Gordon and the GIANTS, where selected Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy players will take part in a driver-training session under a new initiative to prevent young people being injured on New South Wales roads.
With more than 30 players on the GIANTS list under the age of 20 and all players from the Slater & Gordon GIANTSAcademy under the age of 18, the players are all in the highest risk category for road safety.
According to State Government crash statistics, a 17 year old driver with a P1 license is four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver aged over 26. Tragically, speeding is the biggest killer of young drivers and about 80 per cent of those killed are male.
The statistics also reported that young drivers are over represented in all fatal crashes, including drink driving and fatigue. Despite making up only 15 per cent of drivers, young drivers represent around 36 per cent of annual road fatalities.
Western Sydney is also home to some of the highest areas for traffic safety issues for young drivers.
Award winners will be joined in the special driver education and training program along with selected GIANTS AFL players.
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