Roadside rest stops and plenty of sleep provide the key to a safe Easter

16 Apr 2014

Free roadside refreshments will be at the front line of Transport Accident Commission and State Emergency Services efforts to combat drowsy driving over Easter and the Anzac Day weekend.

Nearly 50 Driver Reviver stations will be set up at strategic locations throughout regional Victoria, as thousands hit the state’s roads during the busy holiday period.

Drivers are being encouraged to break up their trips by stopping and grabbing a coffee or something to eat as part of the long-running TAC and SES partnership targeting drowsy driving.

TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore said driver fatigue was responsible for an estimated 20 per cent of Victorian road deaths each year.

“Stopping at a Driver Reviver station is an opportunity to break up a trip and stretch the legs but the fact remains driving with anything less than a good night’s sleep under your belt is a recipe for disaster,” Ms Dore said.

“People might think that quick fixes like winding down the window or grabbing a coffee from a drive-thru is enough to keep them going on a long trip but that is the wrong approach,” Ms Dore said.

The Easter holiday coincides with the TAC’s new Drowsy Drivers campaign, reminding Victorians that they can’t fight sleep.

“If you are experiencing drowsiness while driving, it means you are already falling asleep and the only way to avoid falling asleep at the wheel is to pull over and have a powernap.”

Drivers experiencing drowsiness are encouraged to use the Driver Reviver stations as a safe location for a 15-minute powernap but it is also important to plan your trip with plenty of rest breaks.

Six people have lost their lives on Victorian roads over the past two Easter long weekends and Ms Dore called on all road users to play their part in ensuring there are no deaths or serious injuries this weekend.

“We want everyone to reach their destination safely and that means planning your trip and ensuring you have had a good night’s sleep before getting behind the wheel.”

To find which Driver Reviver stations you’ll be passing by these holidays visit http://www.ses.vic.gov.au/prepare/driver-reviver/places-to-stop
To see what the SES Driver Reviver stations look like, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCKM9TbWhwo

Increasing understanding of the role of fatigue in road trauma is a key action in the State Government’s Road Safety Strategy (2013-2022). To find out more, visit http://www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au.