Rest stop on the way to the mountain
21 August 2018
A hot drink, sausage sizzle and soup provided a welcome break for drivers passing through Ngāhinapōuri on Sunday, many on their way back from a weekend at the snow.
More than 200 people made use of the fatigue stop provided by Waipa District Council, Broadspectrum and local Police, which encouraged drivers to take regular breaks to avoid fatigue-related crashes. A similar stop took place in Pirongia in July.
Council's road safety co-ordinator Megan Jolly said four per cent of crashes in the Waipā last year related to fatigue and it was important that drivers take a break especially when travelling long distances. In 2017, fatigue was a factor in 32 fatal crashes and 100 serious-injury crashes nationally.
There are lots of drivers passing through the district at this time of year on their way to the mountain and beyond. Waipā's rural roads are often unfamiliar to them and in wet or dark conditions can be particularly treacherous after a long day, Jolly said.
People need to realise the huge risk they are taking and the huge risk to people they are sharing the road with, when they drive tired.
Volunteers from the Te Awamutu College SADD group and the Ngāhinapōuri School PTA handed out refreshments and information to drivers including different strategies they could use when feeling tired.
Catching up on lost sleep before you travel and stopping for just 10 minutes every two hours can make a big difference, Jolly said.
More information can be found online at www.reducetherisk.co.nz/fatigue