16 October, 2012
MEDIA RELEASE for immediate release

Beat fatigue at State Driver Reviver stops this Labour weekend

State is helping drivers stay alert on the road this Labour weekend, by welcoming them to State Driver Reviver rest stops on some of the country’s main highways.

State staff will be handing out free barista coffee, barbecued sausages, fruit and water on key routes at peak times. There will be activities for kids, safety information and toilets.

Ministry of Transport figures for 2011 show that 32 people died in crashes where fatigue was identified as a factor, while 141 suffered serious injuries and 619 suffered minor injuries. The total social cost of crashes involving fatigue in 2011 was an estimated $253 million.

State’s Executive General Manager, Mary-Jane Daly, says it is critical to plan your trip to include breaks, to watch for signs of fatigue, and to pull over as soon as you need to.

“Driver fatigue is a danger that creeps up on you. Fatigue-related accidents can happen to anyone, including people who are meticulous about other things like alcohol and speeding.

“Our staff have been volunteering their time to run State Driver Reviver rest stops at the Labour and Easter long weekends for eight years, and it’s encouraging to see more than five thousand people stopping off to take a break. As kiwi sausage sizzles go we’re pretty confident it’s up there with the biggest, and it’s a great way to get the safety message across.”

If you are driving and begin to feel tired:

• Rest - stop and get out of the car for at least 15 minutes as soon as you notice any of the signs of driver fatigue.

• Refresh - have something to drink or eat, but avoid even small amounts of alcohol and stick to light foods to stay alert.

• Re-energise - 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. Wait at least 10 minutes after you wake before you drive again, to make sure you are completely alert.

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 – Labour Weekend 2012

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 22 October, 10.00am - 6.00pm

Putaruru, Waikato
VTNZ Testing Station
State Highway 1, 2km south of Putaruru
Friday 19 October, 2.00pm - 6.00pm
Saturday 20 October, 9.00am - 2.00pm

Ohakea, Manawatu
Weigh Station
State Highway 1, 2km south of Bulls
Monday 22 October, 10.00am - 6.00pm

Lewis Pass, Canterbury
Engineers Camp
State Highway 7
Saturday 20 October, 10.00am - 6.00pm

Ealing, Canterbury
Rest Area
State Highway 1, 110km south of Christchurch
Monday 22 October, 10.00am - 6.00pm

ENDS

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