Magic attacker Ellen Halpenny, pictured with Constable Kalym Davies, has been in the team since the Drive Sober campaign was first launched in 2013. “It’s all about the prevention of drink driving, it’s all about protecting our whanau.”

MEDIA RELEASE

1 July 2016

‘Magic’ surprise for motorists

Hamilton motorists had a ‘magic’ surprise during two booze bus operations as part of promotion for the ‘drive sober’ campaign, now in its fourth year.

Drive Sober was launched as a partnership between Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic and Waikato Regional Council to make sure drivers understand the importance of driving sober to protect themselves and their whanau from serious harm.

The awareness campaign hopes to reduce drink-driving crashes across the Waikato region.

Over two nights (Thursday and Friday) Magic players have joined Waikato Regional Council and Waikato police from the Traffic Alcohol Group.

“As a community we must do everything we can to save more lives by making sure people aren’t drunk behind the wheel. That’s why the Cold Power Magic are out with the Waikato Traffic Police team, helping spread the incredibly important message to drive sober,” Tim Hamilton, CEO Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty.

Magic defender Aisha Bower, pictured with Constable Tim Diamond, said during the operation: “It’s just a way of giving back to the community and using our position to give a good message.”

Regional council road safety coordinator, Monique Haines said: “The partnership has developed over the years and the players are the heart of the campaign. They play a vital part in spreading a pretty clear message – drive sober to protect your whanau.

“Every player has provided her own drive sober tip featuring in a soon-to-be-released set of 13 exercise cards, which also include a warm up drill for players in the netball centres across the Magic zone,” Mrs Haines said.

Waikato district road policing manager, Inspector Freda Grace, said it was great to have the players spread a really positive drive sober message.

“It is great to be working in partnership with both Waikato Regional Council and the Cold Power Magic netball team. Anything that we can do jointly to stop people drinking and driving has to be positive.

“Those who drink drive are responsible for about 24 per cent of the road crashes, so it is a vitally important message for our community,” Inspector Grace said.

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