The Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) new ad campaign – based on new research out of Monash University – says drivers with less than five hours of sleep are four times more likely to crash.
The campaign ‘Driving tired? Wake up to yourself’, launched by the Victorian Government and Transport Accident Commission (TAC), reminds drivers that being tired behind the wheel not only makes them a danger to themselves but a danger to everyone on the roads.
This follows an incident in Bendigo earlier this year, where a woman returning from a night out in Melbourne fell asleep at the wheel on Bendigo’s High St, veering into the bike lane and cleaning up a cyclist.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, says that most road accidents are preventable.
“That’s why we’re urging Victorians to make sure they’ve had a good night’s sleep before they get behind the wheel, because it could save someone’s life,” Minister Horne says.
The study found that driving when tired is a contributing factor in between 16-20% of all road crashes in Victoria.
A second study found most respondents understood the risks of driving while tired and could identify the signs and symptoms, while young men reported a greater risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
Transport Accident Commission CEO, Tracey Slatter, says too many tragedies as a result of being drowsy on the roads.
“Lack of sleep can dramatically affect our ability to drive safely and this campaign will educate Victorians around the risks associated with driving tired and promote how much sleep you need before you are safe to drive,” Slatter says.
“We know that Victorians identify driving while tired as risky but we are still seeing too many tragedies as a result of being drowsy on the roads – our message is to rest up and get more than five hours sleep before driving.”
The campaign comes as this year’s Victorian road toll surpasses 100 – a total of 106 people have lost their lives on the state’s roads in 2024.
Victorians will see and hear the new campaign across TV, online, radio, music streaming platforms, cinemas, regional press, social media, outdoor advertising, and billboards – from 19 May until 30 June.
