The RTA launched the new Pinkie ads during the launch of the 2008/09 domestic cricket season at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

The RTA is heading into its seventh year as a major sponsor of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues and the new ads use this platform to give a further boost to the RTA’s successful road safety advertising.

RTA Director of Road Safety & Policy Mike Veysey said cricket fans would be seeing a lot of the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues both on and off the field.

“Simon Katich, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Beau Casson and Phil Jacques will be waving their pinkies to remind drivers that no one thinks big of people who speed,” Mr Veysey said.

“Signboards featuring the players using the ‘Pinkie’ gesture will feature around the Sydney Cricket Ground.”

The launch of this new phase of the Pinkie campaign follows a national award last week for the campaign. The campaign, formally known as Speeding. No One think big of you, won top honours at the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) awards, for Marketing Excellence in the social marketing category.

“The reality is that young male drivers aged 17-25 are the worst offenders when it comes to speeding,” Mr Veysey said.

“Our statistics show that 85 per cent of all speeding drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes are male - and each year more than 750 young male drivers and riders are killed or injured in speed related crashes.

“The ‘Pinkie’ campaign is helping to make speeding socially unacceptable.

“Research shows that 96 per cent of young males are aware of the ad’s message and 76 per cent said they would slow down as a result of the campaign.

“No one thinks speeding is cool, but the message is even stronger when it comes from high profile sports stars.

“If cricketers do not speed, why would you?”

“The NSW cricketers have been actively involved in helping us promote road safety since we started sponsoring them in 2002/03,” Mr Veysey said.

“The RTA SpeedBlitz Blues On The Road program involves players visiting NSW schools to educate students about the dangers of speeding, and players are also taking part in our newly-launched Slow Down Roadshow which is visiting shopping centres in communities around the state over the next 12 months.

“The RTA would like to thank the NSW cricket players for their support and cooperation in helping reduce the loss of lives on NSW roads,” Mr Veysey said.

For more information on the new Speeding. No one thinks big of you campaign and the Speed Blitz Blues, click here.