Rotorua Lakes Council is hosting a fatigue pit stop today to raise road safety awareness aimed at reducing fatal and serious road crashes.

Helen van Beek, Safer Journeys Coordinator for Rotorua Lakes Council says to avoid fatigue, drivers should be taking a rest at least every two hours and sharing the driving when possible.

“Everyone using our roads is responsible for road safety and if we all play our part that will have wide-ranging benefits for our communities.

“As part of our Drive to Survive summer road safety campaign, we have a fatigue pit stop scheduled to address driver fatigue as it’s a real concern during the busy summer period.

“If you’re heading south of Rotorua between 10am and 12pm on Friday, 2 February pull in to the Golden Springs old bus depot at 4064 State Highway 5, stretch your legs and have a break and you could score road trip goodies from the Edge radio station roadrunners.”

Ms van Beek says fatigue is a major factor in many crashes which take place in the Rotorua District. In the latest ‘Communities at Risk Register’ (NZ Transport Agency), Rotorua scored 5th highest risk district in the country for fatigue-related crashes.

“We’re trying to drive home the message that you should take rest stops every two hours to avoid fatigue which can have fatal consequences.”

Road safety activities are funded by Council and NZ Transport Agency. Council partners with Police, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and ACC to deliver road safety education and promotion in the Rotorua district.

David Speirs, Director of Regional Relationships for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, says targeting unsafe behaviour like fatigue, impaired driving and driver distraction, is part of the NZ Transport Agency’s commitment to road safety.

“On average, one person is killed every day on New Zealand roads. On top of that, thousands of people are seriously injured on our roads every year and preventing that pain and suffering for New Zealand families is why this work is so important. We all have a responsibility to be sober and focused when we drive.”

Stay safe when you drive:

• Wear your seatbelt - always
• Stay focussed on the road – not on your phone
• Drive to the conditions
• Be a responsible driver – don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Don’t exceed speed limits
• Take regular breaks when driving long distances