January 22, 2010
Families heading off for a final get-away before school returns next week are being urged to take a break from driving every two hours.
To coincide with the end of school holidays and a four-day weekend for many people, the Motor Accident Commission (MAC) has released tips for combatting driver fatigue, which can be just as deadly as drink driving or speeding.
MAC General Manager Corporate Affairs Ben Tuffnell said drivers need to plan ahead and schedule rest stops.
“Already this year, South Australia has seen 11 deaths and 295 injuries on our roads – and January isn’t even over yet,” Mr Tuffnell said. “The Australia Day public holiday this Tuesday means there will be even more drivers using regional roads. Families will be heading off today and coming home next week.
“People need to ensure they take a break during their holiday driving, for their safety and the safety of others on the road. Being in a road accident is no way to end your holiday.”
MAC’s latest campaign focusing on driver fatigue is targeting people travelling on regional roads, with billboards, signage and posters appearing in regional pubs, clubs and roadhouses as well as at the start of the south eastern freeway.
“Driver fatigue or tiredness is a major contributor to death and serious injuries on South Australian roads each year,” Mr Tufnell said.
“Fatigue is estimated to be a contributing factor in approximately 30 per cent of fatal crashes and up to 15 per cent of serious injuries. It also represents significant social and economic costs to the community in relation to road crashes.”
Mr Tuffnell said fatigue-related crashes are often more severe as driver reaction times were delayed.
“Drivers may be slow to notice danger and slow to react and this can often result in single vehicle crashes where a vehicle drifts on to the side of the road or multi-vehicle crashes where a head-on collision occurs when the vehicle is on the wrong side of the road,” he said.
“Fatigue-related crashes are often on open roads at high speeds and occur during the hours of 1pm and 3pm and 2am and 6am, with a higher incidence on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”
To view MAC’s tips for combatting driver fatigue, go to http://www.mac.sa.gov.au/fatigue/home
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Ben Tuffnell, General Manager, Corporate Affairs on (08) 8422 8180 or 0401 123 954
