As Victorians prepare to visit family and friends during the Easter holidays, drivers are being reminded to slow down, stick to the speed limit and take regular breaks.
With drowsy driving a factor in one-in-ten road deaths, Easter is a particularly dangerous time with thousands of Victorians driving to holiday destinations around the state, often travelling long distances on less familiar roads.
To help keep the roads safe over the Easter weekend, the State Emergency Services will be running their Driver Reviver campaign.
The campaign will be out at more than 45 roadside locations across Victoria, Australia, between Thursday and Monday, offering hot drinks and snacks to encourage drivers to stop, rest, refresh and arrive safely at their destination.
The Transport Accident Commission Pit Stops will also return to six of Victoria’s busiest rest stops, complete with free barista coffees, sausage sizzles, prizes and fun family activities.
Pit Stops will operate at Kerang, Dimboola and Euroa on Thursday and Good Friday, and Marong, Drouin and Ballarat on Easter Monday.
Motorists are urged to ensure they are well rested before setting out on a road trip and give themselves plenty of time to get to their destination, travelling at safe speeds and stopping every two hours to swap drivers or rest.
Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino said: “Over the Easter holidays our roads are busy. For drivers, that means taking your time, planning your trip, and slowing down.
“SES volunteers are taking time out of their holidays to help you stay safe this Easter – they’ll give you a warm welcome, a cuppa and a biscuit to help you on your way.”
Minister for Road Safety Luke Donnellan said: “There are choices we can all make every time we use the roads, like slowing down, ensuring you’ve had enough sleep and avoiding distractions. These choices can be the difference between life and death.
“We don’t want to lose another life, or leave another family heartbroken. It’s why we’re asking every Victorian driver to plan ahead, and be safe on our roads.”
For a full list of Driver Reviver locations visit: www.ses.vic.gov.au/get-ready/driver-reviver/locations
