"If you feel tired, pull over and take a break - even if you feel rested."
Greg McWilliam shares that message to warn other drivers to 'Stop, Revive, Survive' this Easter.
Advertisement
Despite an early night and a good sleep before the long road trip, the former Riverina man fell asleep while driving, and slammed into a tree on the Newell Highway in NSW. He was trapped inside his crumpled car and rescuers used the jaws of life to cut him out of the wreckage.
He sustained several fractures and lower vertebrae fractures and feels lucky to be alive. "It could have been much worse," he said. "I am lucky."
Lismore, Victoria Driver Reviver co-ordinator and former Senior of the Year Ted Goodacre said: "It's not about attracting big numbers. The aim is making sure we get the right person pulling up at the right time. If someone was just about to fall asleep at the wheel and stops and has a break with us then it has all been worthwhile."
Driver reviver top tips
- Begin long trips well rested
- Plan a break at least every two hours
- Share the driving where possible
- Avoid driving when you would usually be sleeping
The National Driver Reviver program coordinator, Amy Miles urged drivers to take a break every two hours. "Have a free cuppa and bikkie on us. It could save your life. The Driver Reviver program truly is a commitment to the community by our partners Bushells Tea, Bushells Coffee, The Arnott's Foundation, Sunshine Sugar, AAMI and Shell V-Power," Amy Miles said.
Driver Reviver thanked the volunteers from organisations including Lions Clubs, State Emergency Services, Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) and Rural Fire Service (RFS) who 'give up their own time to promote road safety and help reduce the road toll by providing free refreshments to motorists with a friendly smile'.
More than 25 million free teas and coffees and 28 million snacks have been served to drivers and their passengers since 1990, which aims to promote road safety and reduce the road toll at high-risk holiday times.
The 187 Driver Reviver sites and open hours are at driverreviver.com.au.
Did you know?
- If you fall asleep for just four seconds while travelling at 100 km/h, the car will have gone 111m without you being in control
- After being awake for 17 hours you will be impaired to the same level as someone with a blood alcohol level of .05
- Fatigue isn't only an issue on long distance drives, it is still a risk for short drives
- People generally don't become fatigued from driving. Usually, they are already tired from long hours, shift work, sleep apnoea or physically demanding roles.
(Stats from the Transport Accident Commission)
Fatigue is one of the biggest causes of road fatalities and almost three times as likely to be fatal than crashes not involving fatigue.
Dawn Rasmussen
I love the writing game. It gets me bouncing out of bed, and dragging my feet at night when I have to finish up for the day. I started at The Bendigo Advertiser as the Creative Services Coordinator, and after many changes, I have ended up with a great 12 years with ACM (love that long service leave too as my secret gardens need tending sometimes). Working from home is tops and I hope I have many more productive times ahead.
I love the writing game. It gets me bouncing out of bed, and dragging my feet at night when I have to finish up for the day. I started at The Bendigo Advertiser as the Creative Services Coordinator, and after many changes, I have ended up with a great 12 years with ACM (love that long service leave too as my secret gardens need tending sometimes). Working from home is tops and I hope I have many more productive times ahead.
