The NSW Police Force and Transport for NSW have joined forces to raise awareness and educate motorists of the risks associated with driving while tired on regional roads.
State Coordinator for the Rural Crime Prevention Team, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said the campaign allowed the two agencies to engage with motorists most at risk of falling victim to fatigue-related crashes on regional roads.
“[Fatigue is] one of the big three killers on the State’s roads, having claimed the lives of 78 people and left more than 770 people injured on regional NSW roads between 2016 and 2018,” Det Insp Whiteside said.
The agencies launched the four-week outdoor adventure and hunting driver fatigue campaign at the National Australian Field Days at Orange.
“No outdoor adventure or outdoor sporting pursuit is worth your life or the lives of those people travelling in the car with you,” he said.
“If you’re tired, stop and take a break, ‘live’ to enjoy the great outdoors.”
He said the community played a big role in helping to combat fatigue on the roads.
“If you work at a service station, convenience store, food outlet, anywhere that comes into contact with people who might stop during a road trip, keep an eye out for the signs of fatigue in the people you are serving,” Det Insp Whiteside said.
Executive Director for the Centre for Road Safety, Bernard Carlon said the risk of fatigue crashes in country areas were higher as drivers tended to travel longer distances.
“Being awake for 17 hours has a similar effect on your performance and reaction time behind the wheel as a blood alcohol content of .05,” Mr Carlon said.
