The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is urging motorists to avoid driving tired these school holidays, as the number of lives lost on the state’s roads continues to climb.
TAC CEO Tracey Slatter today reminded Victorians to plan ahead before taking to the road during the holiday period, which starts next week.
So far this year, 211 lives have been lost on Victorian roads – nine more than the same time last year – with 112 of those fatalities happening on regional roads.
The TAC is reminding motorists to slow down, take breaks, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, wear a seatbelt and put their phone away. There will be a particular focus on tired driving as Victorians plan road trips across the state to make the most of warmer spring weather.
Driving tired is a factor in an estimated 16 to 20 per cent of all fatal crashes in Victoria, and accounts for approximately 25 per cent of road trauma injuries at The Alfred and Royal Melbourne hospitals.
Recent TAC research revealed that 60 per cent of people admitted to driving while ‘quite tired’, while 21 per cent admitted to driving ‘very tired’ to the point where they struggled to keep their eyes open.
Falling asleep behind the wheel for just four seconds while travelling at 100km/h means a car will travel 111 metres without control. That’s about the same as 24 car lengths.
To avoid driving tired, motorists should ensure they get a good night’s sleep before starting their journey, allow plenty of travel time, plan a break from the road every two hours, avoid distractions and swap drivers if possible.
“Fatigue is a major contributor to road trauma, particularly when people are travelling long distances on regional roads,” Ms Slatter said.
"We encourage drivers to take a break from the road every two hours, share the driving where possible, and slow down and enjoy the drive. Getting to your destination later than planned is better than not arriving at all,” she said.
To help travellers reach their destinations safely, the TAC is extending its Pause Stop Program into 15 Visitor Information Centres through its renewed partnership with the Victoria Tourism Industry Council. These centres provide motorists with a range of resources to plan a safe journey and activities to entertain the kids, while also encouraging motorists to enjoy the local attractions each region has to offer.
The TAC facilitates training of Visitor Information Services employees to become effective front-line community ambassadors and deliver Pause Stop initiative messages to the community.
“Visitor Information Centres play a vital role in supporting safe and enjoyable travel across Victoria,” Victoria Tourism Industry Council CEO Lisa Patroni said.
“Clearly signposted along major highways, these centres offer valuable resources for motorists, including children’s activity packs and local travel advice — encouraging drivers to take regular breaks and explore the best our regions have to offer,” she said.
Visit www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/pausestop for more information on Pause Stop and Driver Reviver locations.