Nap Site trial
‘’NAP SITES’’
Project brief prepared for NAP SITES
Goal and Project Purpose
- Decrease the incidence of fatigue related crashes on the Bruce Highway within the designated area.
- Create awareness of fatigue, encourage driving breaks and power naps.
- Remind passengers in vehicles of driver fatigue and risk of crashes.
- Increase awareness of fatigue with families and necessity to plan fatigue breaks.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE [R.A.A.G. Strategic Management Plan 09]
To ensure a coordinated and collaborative approach to reducing the incidence and severity of road crashes on the Bruce Highway between Proserpine and St Lawrence, the Peak Downs Highway and associated western arterial roads by targeting identified crash causal factors through driver education programs and initiatives.
Objectives:
- Raise the awareness of the dangers of fatigue through innovative signage.
- Encourage the use of stopping bays for breaks, to reduce road trauma’
- Alert inexperienced and international drivers of necessity to take breaks.
- The necessity for families to plan trips and take breaks to reduce risk of fatigue related crashes.
Rationale:
Due to the significant increase in fatalities in 2009, particularly on the Bruce Highway resulting from fatigue, there is a need to implement a strategy that grabs motorists attention at the most appropriate time…………. when driving,……… possibly fatigued.
The area chosen for this project has only a limited number of signs to remind drivers of the dangers relating to fatigue.
On average there has been one heavy vehicle crash every 14 days.
As 60{86d006f64218e9eb1d6d9f60f707596bd77134dd18cba6bb501419d6a9d6d38b} of crashes are north bound, strategies will be developed to target the north bound motorist.
Strategies
- Media awareness programs
- Establish an educational campaign that can be directly linked to driver fatigue. This is achieved through:
- Develop innovative signs that provide a message to motorist. The signage is deliberately written in different ways to catch attention of motorist.
- Strategically position the signs near nominated rest areas
Trial Location
Location of signs will be in line with current statistics [Maps] provided by Mackay DTMR Road Safety.
Corridor Crash Zones, using Road Based Analysis.
Zone length 20 km, Top 20 zones
The trial will be conducted prior to [north and south] Zones 4 and 5
Northbound from Mackay:
1. Peters Rd/Ells Rd, 83kms north of Mackay.
2. Pindi Pindi, pull off area not signed.
3. Stopping area 112kms north of Mackay.
Southbound from Proserpine.
1. 100kms north of Mackay [5kms south of Midge Point t/off]
2. 71 kms north of Mackay [ stopping bay 3 kms south of Yalboroo]
3. 1km south of Pindi Pindi [ stopping bay]
Southbound from Mackay.
1. 110kms south of Mackay
2. 180kms south of Mackay, 1km north of Granite Creek.
Northbound to Mackay.
1. Montrose Creek Stopping Bay [ opp Nullagai Station]
2. 180 kms south of Mackay [4kms north Granite Creek]
3. 160 kms south of Mackay, 1 km north Prospect Creek]
4. 2 Kms north of St Lawrence t/off
5. Cattle Creek 7kms south of Clairview.
The logic of having signage south of St Lawrence is drivers northbound will have rested before going into this high crash zone.
The Nap Trial signage will precede suitable DTMR Signed dual car/truck stopping bays, or rest areas prior to the identified crash zones.
100 metres after the stopping bay a “Dead Tired” sign will be erected, the purpose being a dramatic reminder for the driver to look for and stop at the next available stopping bay. This should also work with passengers to observe the driver.
The signs will be a minimum of 3 metres from the edge line, spacing 50 metres apart, first sign, approx 400 metres before stopping bay. [During trial for spacing, 60 metre spacing worked well at 110kph.]
Who will benefit?
Government- Key agencies involved in Road Safety, Q.P.S., D.T.M.R., Q.F.R.S., have objectives relating to reducing road trauma and improving community safety as part of their strategic plans.
Community- By reducing road trauma, there are significant economic savings, reduced strain on the hospital system, reduced stress in families, reduced delays caused by road crashes.
Industry- Significant economic savings for any reduction in Heavy Vehicle crashes, reduction in trauma to all involved.
Project Timeline:
- Manufacture of 3 sample sets of signs commenced in December 2009.
- Review the proposed sites, Jan 09 to establish the locations for each set of signs.
- Erect the signs on 1/3/2010.
- The signage will remain in place for a period of three (3) months commencing 1/3/2010
- After erection, the signs will be inspected monthly, reinstated if required, grass cleared around them.
- Remove the signs at the end of the program
- Evaluate program.
Evaluation
Several methods are planned:
During the Driver Reviver at Waverley Ck, at Easter 2010, an evaluation sheet to be handed out and collected by the Driver Reviver staff. This sheet, anonymous response, will have a series of questions on the effectiveness of the signage, opinions on value of stopping bays, opinions on quantity and quality of rest areas, and their location if more were planned.
An attempt will be made to get feed back on the effectiveness of signage through sms columns in the Daily Mercury.
Actual media coverage, the depth of the stories, quantity of mentions, and radio talk back will also be conducted during the campaign. A log of this media coverage will be kept.
DTMR Road Safety has offered to collate information on usage of stopping bays before and after signage using data collection equipment.
The most important evaluation will be a comparison of fatigue related crashes in the targeted zones as a comparison to the average over the last three years for the same time frame.
The Trial may well be considered to be run for three years in the same time frame.
We welcome and encourage more input from DTMR and appreciate their assistance, particularly with the questions and later analysis with the information sheets collected at the driver reviver stop at Waverley Ck.
Feed back will be encouraged on the RAAG Website and email listed on the evaluation hand outs.
Advice on evaluation will be sought from CARRSQ.
Agencies involved:
D.T.M.R Mackay.
Q.F.R.S. Mackay.
Risk Management:
Some of the risks have been assessed by observation and experience with a similar type of campaign run by the Nebo Community Development group.
They have trialled different types of core flute, sizes, stake criteria, paint colour, letter sizes, positioning etc over the last three years. This information has been taken into account.
As this trial has a story to each batch, numbering of batches and individual signs will take place, GPS location of each batch will be recorded.
In this way members of RAAG or DTMR Staff could easily report a problem with or missing sign, by taking into account the nearest signs numbering.
Letter sizes will be easily read at 100kph, and sized according to DTMR requirements. Assistance is being made by a reputable sign writing company, involved with road safety messages.
It is recognised in time of constant wet weather the some signs due to wind forces from passing traffic work loose, however again based on the Nebo experience they fall over and lay flat and do not move further.
As the stakes are quite light, a vehicle leaving the road would flatten or snap off the stake, they have near zero constructive strength and could be pushed over or snapped off by a person if they wanted to.
To date the Nebo group have not had any negative comment about reflection at night, in fact the contrary, numerous comments and praise to their effectiveness, and recognition by CARRSQ.
It is recognised this is a trial of the idea, and if there is a valid safety concern by DTMR after erection, the signage would be modified or withdrawn immediately.
It is considered the benefits far out weigh any perceived risk at this stage.
Link to RAAG strategic Plan
This program is linked to;
- Objective 2: [RAAG Strategic Management Plan] – Reduce Road Crashes Involving Fatigue
Budget:
This trial is a low very low budget trial, deliberately to look to the motoring public the messages are coming from a concerned community group.
Materials $1,520.00 Up to $2000.00 approved.
Signwriting assistance donated. Est. In kind $1000.00
Vehicle donated by Leighton’s contractors. Est. in kind $700.00
Labour, manufacture signs RAAG RSC. $750.00
Labour, erect signs, RAAG RSC $750.00
Labour erect signs. Donated by QFRS.
Equipment, loan from SES Mackay
Labour, RSC maintain signs 3 months, removal. $750.00
Evaluation Analysis, donated by DTMR.
Insurance, no special cover taken out, advice appreciated from DTMR.
Insurance: R.A.A.G Inc has directors cover.
Insurance:, R.A.A.G. R.S.C .has Public. Liability, Prof. Indemnity. Cover.
Marketing, advertising donated by media.[not in budget]
Total estimated budget cost to R.A.A.G.Inc $3770.00
Total estimated budget including in kind assistance: $5470.00
Sample Signs during manufacture:
Draft Wording of Signage previously submitted:
R.A.A.G. Inc “NAP SITES” CAMPAIGN BRUCE HIGHWAY 1/3/2010 – 30/6/2010
Signage: S1= Sign 1 S2= Sign 2
A] S1: R…. U, S2: ALERT? S3: 15 MINUTES, S4: POWERNAP?
B] S1: TIRED, S2: DRIVERS, S3: KILL, S4: MATES
C] S1: TIME, S2:TO STOP, S3: 15 MINUTE NAP S4: THATS ALL.
D] S1: NAP NOW, S2: B4 S3: 2, S4: LATE,
E] S1: TIME, S2: 2, S3: CHANGE. S4: DRIVERS
F] S1: 15 MINS. S2: POWER NAP. S3: SAVES. S4: LIVES
G] S1: TAKE. S2: A S3: BREAK. S4: NOW
H] S1: FATIGUE. S2: A. S3: SILENT. S4: KILLER
I] S1: HEY! S2: DUDE! S3: DRIVER. S4: ALERT?
J] S1: PAX S2: R. S3. U. S4: SAFE?
Alternative single signs 100 metres after stopping bay,
K] DEAD TIRED? Drawing of car upside down under wording
L] DEAD TIRED? Drawing of car crashed into tree, under wording
M] DEAD TIRED? Drawing of car crashed into front of truck
N] FATIGUE KILLS Four grave yard crosses, two large, two small, representing family. R.I.P.
O] R U ALERT?
Would like to use max 5 signs each Stopping Bay, including a sign after bay questioning did they stop? Or should they stop soon? Approx 50 metres between signs, 60 metres in 110kph zone.
Would like multiple different messages, aimed mainly at passengers, to influence drivers, remembering this is boring mainly straight flat highway.
Signs will be 600mm wide x 900mm deep, on 50mmx25mm hard wood stake, non reflectorised.
Using the time proven analogy of advertising lasting approx 48 hours in memory, it is hoped this signage will influence drivers and passengers at least for this trip and start to change behaviour toward fatigue by the whole family in the future.
International drivers who figure highly in statistics may pick up on the messages also commercial drivers.
We would appreciate consideration and earliest written approval from DTMR, as the manufacture of signs is quite time consuming.
Conclusion – 19/10/2011
This trial led to The Rest Area Stopping Place Project it became quite apparent from the evaluations surveys and public comment and the introduction of Heavy Vehicle Fatigue Management Legislation there are grossly insufficient rest areas in the Bowen Basin.
With the new documents ” GUIDELINES TO REST AREAS IN QUEENSLAND” produced by Transport and Main Roads with the recommendation a rest area every 80 kilometers this led to the Rest Area Project. ( see RASP)
Thanking You,
Graeme Ransley.
Road Safety Coordinator.