A Driver Reviver initiative at the Edaggee rest area on the North West Coastal Highway supported by a Road Safety Commission community grant.
This week is National Driver Fatigue Week.
Did you know that taking a 15-20 minute power nap can save your life?
In 2018-2022 driver fatigue contributed to 1,074 crashes where people were killed or
seriously injured on Western Australian roads.
171 people lost their lives.
You might think that fatigue-related crashes only happen on rural and regional roads, or when driving over long distances, but you would be wrong. They also happen in metro areas and on short trips. If you’re a shift worker or have poor sleeping patterns, you are particularly at risk.
“Every driver is at risk of death or serious injury when driving tired, you can drift out of sleep
without knowing it,” said Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner.
Sleep experts call this a micro-sleep and it can last three to five seconds. A micro-sleep of five seconds at 110km/h is like travelling the length of an Aussie rules football field with your eyes closed.
“Fatigue can be as dangerous as drink driving,” said Adrian. “Driving after being awake for 17-19 hours is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05.”
When you ignore the danger signs of fatigue, you put your life at risk and the lives of others. They include:
- Wandering thoughts
- Missing a gear, road sign or exit
- Slowing or speeding up unintentionally
- Braking too late
- Yawning
- Blinking more than usual
- Have trouble keeping your head up
- Noticing your eyes closing for a moment or going out of focus
- Forgetting driving the last few kilometres
Don’t trust your tired self. A simple power nap of no more than 20 minutes could save your life.
Here’s what to do:
Step 1 – Pull over somewhere safe and turn off the engine.
Step 2 – Allow enough air flow by opening your windows if possible.
Step 3 – Recline your seat and make yourself comfortable.
Step 4 – Set your alarm for 20 minutes.
Step 5 – Close your eyes and focus on your breathing.
Step 6 – When your alarm goes off put your seat up, fasten your seatbelt and continue on your journey when you are feeling refreshed.
If driving long distances, get at least 7.5 hours sleep the night before and make plans around taking a break every two hours. Remember coffee is no substitute for a rest. Check out the Main Roads Travel Map Main Roads Travel Map at https://travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/ for rest areas and amenities in WA. You can even test your tired self by taking our road safety game.
Stay safe. Stay awake.
