Driver Reviver rest stops for Easter drivers with fatigue

25 March 2013

State Driver Reviver rest stops to help Easter drivers fight fatigue

Drivers will be offered free food and drink to encourage them to take a break at State Driver Reviver rest stops on some of New Zealand’s main routes this Easter weekend.

State staff will be helping drivers to stay alert by brewing barista coffee, sizzling sausages and handing out fruit and water. There will also be activities for kids and, of course, toilets.

Ministry of Transport provisional figures for 2012 show that 46 people died in crashes where fatigue was identified as a factor, 138 suffered serious injuries and 538 suffered minor injuries. The total social cost of crashes involving fatigue in 2012 was an estimated $280 million.

General Manager State Insurance, Kevin Hughes, says staff volunteers love welcoming drivers to the rest stops – which they’ve run every Easter and Labour weekend for nine years.

“Wherever you are, make sure you stop and get out of the car for at least 15 minutes as soon as you notice any of the signs of driver fatigue,” he says.

“Pull over somewhere safe if you need to take a nap, but don’t sleep for more than 20 minutes as you may feel groggy. And wait at least 10 minutes after you wake before driving off again, to make sure you’re completely alert.”

To help you avoid driver fatigue:
• Get a good night's sleep before driving, preferably eight hours
• Plan your journey to include rest breaks
• Share the driving when possible
• Take someone to help you stay alert and watch you for signs of fatigue
• Don’t drive during the hours when you would normally be sleeping or napping
• Make sure you’re fully awake before driving following a period of sleep
• Snack on light, fresh foods
• Get plenty of fresh air
• If possible, avoid driving for several days following long-distance air travel.

You may be suffering from driver fatigue if you are:
• having trouble focusing, keeping your eyes open or holding your head up
• daydreaming, having wandering or disconnected thoughts, or loss of memory
• yawning or rubbing your eyes repeatedly
• drifting from your lane, tailgating and missing signs or exits
• feeling restless and irritable.

State Driver Reviver – Easter Weekend 2013

Go to www.state.co.nz/StateDriverReviver for details of the five State Driver Reviver rest stops, with scheduled times subject to light and weather conditions:

Ruakaka, Northland
Uretiti Weigh Station
State Highway 1, 30km south of Whangarei
Monday 01 April, 10.00am - 6.00pm

Putaruru, Waikato
VTNZ Testing Station
State Highway 1, 2km south of Putaruru
Thursday 28 March, 2.00pm - 6.00pm
Friday 29 March, 9.00am - 2.00pm

Ohakea, Manawatu
Weigh Station
State Highway 1, 2km south of Bulls
Monday 01 April, 10.00am - 6.00pm

Lewis Pass, Canterbury
Engineers Camp
State Highway 7
Friday 29 March, 10.00am - 6.00pm

Ealing, Canterbury
Rest Area
State Highway 1, 110km south of Christchurch
Monday 01 April, 10.00am - 6.00pm

About State
State has been providing New Zealanders with an extensive range of personal and business insurance services for more than 100 years and manages just under a million policies on behalf of almost 460,000 New Zealanders. State is a business division of IAG New Zealand Limited, New Zealand’s largest general insurer.

ENDS

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