As National Driver Fatigue Week continues, the NSW government has urged all road users to ensure they are appropriately rested before hitting the road in 2025.
There was a 47 per cent increase in people losing their lives in fatigue-related crashes across the state in 2024, with 78 people losing their lives across the calendar year.
Fatigue is one of the top killers on Australian roads alongside speeding and drink and drug driving and is especially dangerous on country roads.
National Driver Fatigue Weeks runs from Friday, February 21 to Thursday, February 27.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison says power naps and a good night’s rest are key to limiting the risk factors associated with fatigued driving.
“Driving on country roads often involves driving for long distances at higher speeds and sharing the roads with heavy vehicles, so the fatigue risk is much greater,” Aitchison says.
“We need all road users to be aware of the dangers of fatigue and remember if you feel tired while driving or experience any of the early warning signs such as yawning, restlessness or sore eyes, pull over in a safe place, stretch your legs and have a power nap.
“Make sure you have a good night’s sleep before getting behind the wheel and avoid driving at times when your body would naturally sleep, like late at night or early morning.
The installation of 2700 kilometres of rumble strips around NSW are part of ongoing efforts to invest in fatigue-risk limiting factors around the state.
Other key initiatives include the promotion of 56 ‘Driver Reviver’ sites during holiday periods where motorists can pull in for a free tea or coffee and maintaining and upgrading hundreds of signed rest areas around the state.
Orange and Cabonne Road Safety Officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughn says the positive impact of a 15- to 20-minute power nap is often underestimated.
“A power nap is a short sleep that terminates before deep sleep and is intended to quickly revitalise an individual’s concentration and situation awareness,” Hamilton-Vaughn says.
“Prevention is always better option than managing the fallout. If a driver is struggling to keep their eyes open, they are in imminent danger of falling into a microsleep. At that time, a 15- to 20-minute power nap is the solution.”
Read more ATN:
Isuzu continues with executive appointments
GJ Freight acquired by Lindsay Australia
Sturt Highway upgrades set to commence