It’s been a horror start to 2021 on the roads, with multiple fatal accidents involving caravanners having already taken place.
While investigations into the exact causes of these crashes is still ongoing, it is an established fact that fatigue plays a role in up to 30% of all deaths and severe injuries on Australian roads.
The news that the Federal Government is offering a $7.3 million grant allocation to upgrade Driver Reviver sites across Australia is then certainly welcome.
There are around 190 Driver Reviver sites nationally that will be able to share from the fund to upgrade amenities and install new equipment. Driver Reviver sites are managed by volunteers from community groups who provide travellers a place to stop, free beverages, snacks and a chat.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Scott Buchholz, said Driver Reviver sites were critical in tackling driver fatigue to make our roads safer.
“Driver Reviver owners will be able to use this round’s funding for a range of much-needed amenities to entice road users to make good use of their sites, such as shelters, picnic tables, power and water facilities, barbecues, parking, lighting and of course equipment such as fridges or hot water urns that allow them to offer that much-needed cuppa with their friendly chats,” he said. “Initiatives such as the Driver Reviver program showcase what governments and communities can achieve when working together and, of course, the role road users can play to ensure we all get home safely at the end of each trip.”
Michelle Landry, the Federal Member for Capricornia, which covers the Rockhampton area, said the role of rest areas was especially critical in regional Australia.
“Anyone who’s taken a long trip across Queensland or even interstate knows just how quickly fatigue can creep up on you and how lifesaving it can be to take a well-deserved break, perhaps even switch drivers,” she said. “I encourage every Australian to take road safety seriously and do what they can to help keep themselves and others safe on our roads, including taking breaks when they need it, even if it adds another half-hour to their trip.”
A recent US study showed that fatigue-related crashes increase dramatically when rest stops are more than 32 kilometres away from the vehicle at the time of the accident, showing the importance of rest areas as part of a road safety strategy directed at fatigue management.
Many of our rest stops are simply a strip of bitumen and a rubbish bin, not even any shade available. These “rest stops” do nothing to encourage me to stop.
Port Lincoln SA to Euston NSW, 958 Klm’s 14 hrs
I haven’t seen one open and operating in a very long time.
I agree with the strip of bitumen statement, they are most univiting. Hot and not even enough room to stretch a leg or catch a cuppa in a bit of shade. Now you cannot enter truck stops for a few minutes it’s all quite difficult. Not many easy parks in townships either if you need a comfort stop.
I agree with Carol and Lorraine. Others on the closer coastal runs are totally overcrowded and a bit dangerous.
More rest stops shade and amenties…spend some money in the regional areas of Australia..!
I’m super cautious these days since having fallen asleep once at the wheel whilst driving on the freeway at 110kph some years back. The saving grace for me was when the vehicle drifted onto the verge that fortunately had rumble strips that woke me. And boy, did I wake up!
I’ve experienced drowsiness 30 minutes into my trip which could hardly be classified as fatigue but I treat it with the respect that it deserves. I find pulling the van gives me the opportunity to have a cuppa, a nap or a bit of a walk if I feel sluggish. If time is of the essence I find a 5 minute brisk walk gets the blood flowing and revives me for quite some time, otherwise a nap is adequate.
Yes we could argue that rest areas are few and far between, however if you try to push on, that is when you may come to grief. When I start to feel a little bit drowsy I look for any opportunity to pull over at the earliest possible time which sometimes can mean not being in the most idealic of places but I’ve learnt my lesson and I do not take it for granted. Sleep happens in a micro second.
our caravan club from Mackay manned the driver reviver at Waverly creek central qld over the Australia Day weekend,,,We manned it for 6 days and nights and I reckon that about 5 percent of the general travelling motorists stopped for no more than a toilet stop 5 mins max ,For every van that used the reviver stop 25 vans went past..