THIS Easter long weekend, hundreds of Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and Lions Club members will take time out from their holidays to make sure drivers get to their holiday destinations safely.
\nMore than 40 Driver Reviver sites will operate a national campaign with one objective: to reduce road collisions by alleviating driver fatigue.
\nDriver Reviver sites offer free tea, coffee, biscuits and more to help motorists rest and refresh in a staffed and safe environment.
\nToday, throughout the state, with 102 accredited to perform Road Rescue, making the VICSES the largest Road Rescue operator in Australia.
\nIn the past year, VICSES volunteers were called to attend 917 road rescue incidents across Victoria.
\nTen of these were across the last Easter long weekend (2015).
\n\u201c(As of March 10), we\u2019ve had 68 fatalities on Victorian roads. That\u2019s up 28.3 per cent from the same time last year. That\u2019s 68 people who won\u2019t be celebrating Easter with their families this year,\u201d VICSES chief officer operations Trevor White said.
\n\u201cWith an estimated 22 per cent of drivers admitting to momentarily falling asleep at the wheel, it is important to remember to take a break every VICSES has 152 volunteer units Revive and survive two hours when driving.
\n\u201cEaster is a particularly busy time on our roads and I ask all Victorian drivers to take special precautions when travelling through the state this long weekend.
\n\u201cIt is always more gratifying for SES volunteers across Victoria this Easter weekend from Thursday March 24 until Tuesday March 29.
\nFor more than 25 years, Driver Reviver has been to have a friendly chat and serve you a cuppa at a Driver Reviver site than be faced with the trauma of cutting you out of your vehicle after a collision.\u201d
\nTAC senior road safety manager Samantha Cockfield urged anyone taking a road trip this Easter to plan their trip and to take advantage of SES Driver Reviver sites across the state.
\n\u201cHaving a rest stop mid-trip gives you the chance to walk around, get some fresh air and have a cup of coffee to break up a long drive,\u201d Ms Cockfield said.
\n\u201cIf you’re feeling really tired, having a 15-minute powernap is a proven way to recharge the batteries before returning to the road.
\n\u201cBut the best thing anyone can do before a long drive is get a good night’s sleep, there really is no substitute for it,\u201d she said.
\nTo function at their best, a healthy adult needs on average seven to nine hours\u2019 sleep a night.
\nIn the past five years, 18 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads over the Easter long weekend, including four last year.
\nIf you\u2019re taking a trip over Easter, visit a Driver Reviver site to take a break on the way.
\nFor more information and a full list of sites and their operating hours, head to ses.vic.gov.au\/driverreviver. Tips for a long car journey:
\nIt is critical before leaving on long trips to be well rested, Plan trips so that you will stop at least every two hours; 15 minutes is a good break, Share the driving with someone else, Don’t let the temperature inside the car make you drowsy, Keep the radio or musics at a low level; loud music can interfere with concentration, Be flexible, if you feel you are getting tired, don’t wait, find somewhere safe and have a quick nap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THIS Easter long weekend, hundreds of Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and Lions Club members will take time out from their holidays to make sure drivers get to their holiday destinations safely. More than 40 Driver Reviver sites will operate a national campaign with one objective: to reduce road collisions by alleviating driver fatigue. Driver […]<\/p>\n