If you’re planning a road trip with your family or friends this festive season, then be sure to take a break and stay safe.
Drivers of all ages get tired – even the young and fit – and you may not even be aware that fatigue is eroding your driving skills.
If you experience feeling “sleepy”, “tired” or “exhausted” while driving you need to stop. Get out of the car, breathe fresh air, stretch your legs and have some light refreshments.
Generally, you should stop at least every 2 hours for a 15 minute break.
Recognise the early warning signs:
- Yawning
- Poor concentration
- Sore/tired eyes
- Restlessness
- Drowsiness
- Slow reactions
- Boredom
- Oversteering
Driver Reviver Program
Driver Reviver Program operates throughout Australia during school/university holidays and over long weekends to reduce fatigue-related crashes on our roads.
If you’re planning a road trip, the online map of Driver Reviver sites shows places to take a break from driving and enjoy some complimentary refreshments.
Driver Reviver sites are there for all motorists and serve a very important purpose for everyone driving over long periods during holidays.
Top 10 facts
- About 80 Driver Reviver sites operate in NSW.
- Driver Reviver is sponsored by Bushells Tea and Arnotts Biscuits, which provide free tea, coffee and biscuits.
- Driver Reviver sites offer toilet facilities, shade, seating and water. Some offer ‘extras’ such as entertainment (radio, kids’ games), baby change tables, pet bowls.
- Operating days/times vary between sites. Some open 24 hours over the whole holiday period, some operate 9am-5pm and others operate at peak arrival times or at the start and end of the holiday period.
- Road signs show when you’re approaching a Driver Reviver site, but to help drivers plan ahead, our online map of Driver Reviver sitesshows their location within NSW. A list of sites and operating times is also available two weeks before each holiday period.
- About 1.1 million people stop at Driver Reviver sites across Australia each year.
- Up to 1.7 million cuppas and 1.3 million snacks are consumed each year.
- The Driver Reviver program started in 1986 with a handful of sites.
- Community groups including Lions, SES and volunteer rescue (VRA) run individual Driver Reviver sites.
- There are currently more than 5000 Driver Reviver volunteers from all ages and backgrounds who provide a warm welcome and information on other places to stop, plus places of interest.