The Minns Labor Government is urging all road users to rest and stay off the road while tired after NSW recorded a 47 per cent rise in people losing their lives in fatigue related crashes last year.
Sadly, 78 people died in fatigue-related crashes on NSW roads in 2024 compared to 53 people in 2023.
Alongside speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue is one of the top killers on NSW roads and the vast majority of crashes involving fatigue are happening on regional roads, with 69 of the 78 deaths occurring in regional communities in 2024.
While heavy vehicles make up only 2 per cent of NSW motor vehicle registrations, heavy vehicle drivers accounted for around 26 per cent of fatigue related deaths on NSW roads last year.
To help raise awareness of the dangers of driving fatigued, the Minns Labor Government is promoting fatigue safety and the benefits of taking a power nap during National Driver Fatigue Week which runs from February 21-27.
The awareness and education effort builds on the government's other suite of road safety initiatives which are aiming to reduce fatigue related crashes and improve road safety overall. These include:
- Rolling out around $1 billion in lifesaving infrastructure upgrades on regional and metropolitan roads through the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program and the joint federal/ state funded Road Safety Program.
- Investing $46 million on 2700 kilometres worth of rumble strips to help fight fatigue.
- Maintaining 673 signposted rest areas and building a new rest area on the Newell Highway north of Narrabri.
- Upgrading rest areas through the $11.9 million statewide Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop Minor Works program.
- Promoting 56 volunteer run Driver Reviver rest area sites where motorists travelling during holiday periods can stop for a free tea or coffee.
- Running high visibility communication campaigns such as the 'Don't Trust Your Tired Self' campaign
- Launching a trial of average speed cameras for light vehicles in 2025.
- Upgrading mobile phone detection cameras to detect seatbelt offenders.
- Doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with an additional 2,700 new sites where a camera can be deployed. (Total enforcement hours remain the same).
For more information and tips on how to combat fatigue, visit the Power Nap website: https://powernap.org.au.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
"Driving on country roads often involves driving for long distances, at higher speeds and sharing the road with heavy vehicles so the fatigue risk is much greater.
"We need all road users to be aware of the dangers of fatigue and remember if you feel tired while driving or experience any of the early warning signs such as yawning, restlessness or sore eyes, pull over in a safe place, stretch your legs and have a power nap at one of the many rest areas we have available in NSW.
"Make sure you have a good night's sleep before getting behind the wheel and avoid driving at times when your body would naturally sleep, like late at night or early morning."
