Fatigue is one of the major causes of fatal crashes in the Mackay and Isaac regions. It accounts for almost 20% of fatal crashes and is one of the Fatal 5. However, fatigue related crashes can be avoided, as long as motorists pay attention to the warning signs and take safety precautions.
To address this issue, RAAG has produced a number of resources designed to raise awareness of fatigue and hopefully change behaviour. The flyer can be downloaded here. These resources are free for anyone to use and share to raise awareness.
In addition to these resources, RAAG also offers a fatigue management road safety presentation. If you would like to find out more, head here.
Toolbox Talk Video
This video was produced to be used by workplaces and community organisations to raise awareness of fatigue and how to manage it. The accompanying worksheet can be downloaded here and used in conjunction with the video makes a powerful and impactful toolbox talk.
Trevor Deakin’s Story
Trevor Deakin was killed in a single-vehicle accident when driving home from work. These videos show the impact his decision to drive fatigued made on his family when they recieved the call that he would not be coming home.
These videos are a reminder that fatigue needs to be managed, with appropriate rests being taken or the decision to not drive at all. While pushing through fatigue to get home sooner may seem the preferred option, for your family’s sake, please consider the potential consequences. They run for 15sec, 30sec and a longer seven minute video.
Fatigue Danger Periods:
- 2 – 4pm (siesta time) you are TWICE as likely to have a fatigue related incident.
- Midnight – 6am – (sleep time) – you are SIX times more likely to have a fatigue related incident.
A ten minute nap is sufficent to keep you alert for the next hour. However, sleeping is the only way to relieve tiredness.
Meg & Zach’s Story
Meg and Zach, narrowly survived a serious crash with a truck after falling asleep at the wheel during a long drive. They relive the horror of that day and how it has impacted them and how close they came to not surviving at all.
They were driving home from South East Queensland and decided to start early and keep driving until they got home. This proved to be an almost fatal mistake. Meg woke up from a microsleep to an oncoming truck and managed to swerve out of the way just in time. Their story is a stark reminder of how quickly things can change and how easily it could have been a different ending.
These videos run for 15, 30 and 60seconds.
Both of these stories serve as reminders that fatigue can happen to anyone and the consequences can be devastating.
While all of our resources are free to use, they are not free to produce and create. As a volunteer run, not for profit, RAAG relies on partnerships, donations and grant funding to create these resources. If you would like to help RAAG continue to create resources such as these, please consider making a donation or becoming a sponsor. Please get in touch at admin@raag.com.au or check our partnerships page here.