Tennis fans the winners in TAC efforts to keep road users on the ball

08 Dec 2014

The Transport Accident Commission will serve up an ace for road safety when it gives tennis fans a chance to compete on a Grand Slam court at next month's Australian Open.

For the first time in the event's history, fans at the Open will be able to kit up and battle it out on-court thanks to a new partnership between the TAC and Tennis Australia.

Court Nine will be renamed The People's Court and, between official matches, 300 lucky fans will be able to play a 30-minute match on the same surface as their international tennis heroes.

TAC chief executive officer Janet Dore said the People's Court promotion and other TAC activities at the event were all about driving home the dangers of getting distracted on the roads, particularly for pedestrians.

"Any tennis player knows a courtside distraction at the wrong moment can put you off your game but when you're out using the roads, a momentary distraction can be deadly," Ms Dore said.

Ms Dore said the TAC's involvement in the tennis was about broadening its distractions message in a way that resonates with pedestrians, who are particularly vulnerable when distracted by mobile devices such as music players or phones.

"We're proud to be partnering with Tennis Australia to use the power of the nation's biggest sporting event to engage with the public on this important issue," She said.

Fans lucky enough to play on the People's Court will be treated to an authentic Australian Open experience, complete with a chair umpire, ball kids, an announcer, racquets and match stats all provided by Tennis Australia. They will also be given an official player towel and a video highlights package to share with their mates on social media.

"The People's Court will provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience but this is really all about getting people to and from the Open safely and making them understand how important it is to concentrate on the task at hand at all times when using the roads," Ms Dore said.

"It doesn't matter whether you're on foot or behind the wheel, no song, no phone call, no text and no social media post is worth putting your life at risk."

Tennis Australia chief executive officer Craig Tiley said his organisation looked forward to working with the TAC on the People's Court initiative which was launched today at Southbank.

"We are delighted to join forces with the TAC to give fans the opportunity to experience the excitement and atmosphere of playing on the same court as the world's best players," Tiley said.

"The People's Court will reward tennis fans with the ultimate Australian Open experience and also raise awareness of the dangers of distractions for both drivers and pedestrians."

Other TAC activities at the event include the TAC's Enchanted Garden, a distractions-free zone, where visitors can turn off their phone, remove their headphones and enjoy some quiet time out of the sun.

To register for a chance to play on the People's Court, enter an online competition at www.peoplescourt.com.au by December 30. There will also be wild card entry opportunities each day for people at the event.