Fittler launches "Building the Blues" road safety campaign

Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler and advisor Greg Alexander today launched a social media campaign Building the Blues in conjunction with Transport for NSW, which reinforces the importance of making smart decisions around road safety.

The three-part, mini-documentary series will air on social media channels for the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues and Transport for NSW. It features Fittler, Alexander and True Blue Boyd Cordner talking about the importance of teamwork and making good decisions both on and off the field.

Fittler and Alexander launched the latest initiative at Oakes Oval in Lismore as part of the NSWRL's ongoing support for The Knock-On Effect campaign.

Fittler, Alexander and Cordner all represented the NSW Blues with distinction but have also suffered personal tragedies from road deaths.

Alexander’s brother and Fittler’s best friend, Ben Alexander, was killed in a drink-driving crash in 1991.

“We used to drink-drive and speed, and sadly that killed my best mate,” Fittler said.

“When I look back, I realise I am lucky not to have suffered the same fate.

“The most intelligent people are those who can learn from other people’s mistakes. Speeding, drink driving, and fatigue are things we can control with good decisions.”

Alexander said bad decisions could be costly on the football field but they paled into insignificance to poor decisions on the road.

“Any distractions while driving can have a disastrous impact on you and those around you,” he said.

“No phone call, no message, no email is worth your life or anyone else’s.”

Cordner lost his uncle, Greg Cordner, after the car he was driving was struck by another vehicle.

“If you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs or are driving tired, those are all bad decisions, and the repercussions are deadly,” Cordner said.

Deputy Secretary of Safety, Environment and Regulation at Transport for NSW Tara McCarthy said that someone is killed or seriously injured on NSW roads every 46 minutes. She added that between 2016 and 2020, speeding, drink driving and fatigue had contributed to about 57 per cent of deaths and 34 per cent of injuries.

“Teamwork and good decision-making skills are important for both winning a game and keeping our roads safe,” McCarthy said.

“We must all do our part to keep our roads safe by making good decisions to help ourselves and others arrive safely to their destinations.

“I urge everyone to stay under the speed limit and drive to the conditions, do not use your phone when driving, be well-rested if you are about to get behind the wheel, take frequent rest stops or swap drivers if you are driving long distances, and never ever drive if you’re affected by drugs or alcohol.

“On our roads, one bad decision can impact an entire community.”

The NSWRL are proud supporters of The Knock-On Effect campaign from Transport for NSW which aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads. The Knock-On Effect also sponsors the state's premier competition, The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.

Since 2019, True Blues Mark O'Meley, Ben Elias, Jamie Soward, Willie Mason, Mark Hughes, Beau Scott and Luke Bailey have helped deliver road safety messages to more than 1500 people across NSW including Tamworth, Narromine, Griffith, Shellharbour, Maitland, Wyong and Ballina.

Click here for more information about the Government’s commitment to reducing road deaths and serious injuries.