Hille, who is an ambassador for the round 20 Road Safety match, was involved in a serious car accident in 1998 when he was 17 years old.
While he was wearing a seatbelt in the crash on the Mornington Peninsula, six of his seven mates in the car were not. Three died when it hit a tree shortly after driving off.
Now Hille is keen to promote the message the TAC is reiterating as Victoria’s world-leading mandatory seatbelt legislation marks its 40th anniversary.
“It took some time to understand the TAC was offering me a wonderful platform to promote this message,” he said on Tuesday at Windy Hill.
“In the end, I hope it’s something that’s seen as a positive message.
“I hope [it helps] young individuals who don’t quite understand the ramifications of their choices to think and look after one another and their loved ones.”
Hille, who was visibly moved when he recounted the accident, said the memory of that night would stay with him forever.
"With eight young men loaded into one car, I took a ride that lasted less than a minute - unlicensed, without seatbelts and travelling at speed," he said.
"Three lives ended that day, five others changed forever. The smells of that day etched on my soul in a way only those who have been exposed to road trauma would understand.
"What is important to take from this campaign is that in wearing a seatbelt, you get to save a life."
Club CEO Ian Robson said the club was delighted the AFL had shown flexibility in allowing the Bombers to don the red seatbelt sash just two weeks after they altered their jumper with a yellow armband for the Call to Arms match against St Kilda.
“When we embrace a community issue we really go at it hard. How could you not, given the very personal and compelling story David Hille has told?” he said.
“When we talked about this at the start of the year, we were very mindful we had the three big games back, to back, to back.
“Collingwood and Essendon has a special ring to it on Anzac Day and it also has a special ring to it now this year because of the anniversary of the seatbelt legislation.”
VFL teams the Bendigo Bombers and the Coburg Tigers, TAC Cup teams the Bendigo Pioneers and the Oakleigh Chargers, and A-League side the Melbourne Victory will also wear seatbelt sashes on their jumpers this weekend.
