EastLink is rated as one of Australia's safest roads. Last month, ConnectEast spokesman James Tonkin told the Journal there had been 1.17 casualty accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled on EastLink to the end of May 2009, compared with a rate of 5.46 for VicRoads' urban freeways. Of 127 accidents, only eight resulted in injuries and there had been no deaths.

Last week, ConnectEast managing director John Gardiner said four of the top seven municipalities for road deaths in Victoria were located in or near the EastLink corridor, with drivers aged between 18 and 25 over-represented in road accident statistics.

ConnectEast's road safety program, in partnership with the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League, will be delivered to more than 40 football and netball clubs with the help of RoadSafe Victoria, the RACV, Transport Accident Corporation, local councils and emergency services personnel.

More than 500 football and netball players between the ages of 17 and 18 attended the first phase of the program, which included practical demonstrations of the consequences of drink-driving and risk-taking.

In phase two, which begins this month, members of the CFA and SES road crash rescue team will demonstrate the physical and psychological effects of a car accident on victims, their friends, families and the wider community.