Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, is urging drivers to take fatigue seriously as part of National Driver Fatigue Week, running from 21–27 February 2025. The campaign highlights strategies to combat driver fatigue, a major factor in road accidents, particularly among heavy vehicle operators.

“Fatigue is a contributing factor in one in three road fatalities,” Mr Ward said. “National Driver Fatigue Week aims to raise awareness and promote intervention strategies to reduce these preventable tragedies.”

Mr Ward emphasized that Australia’s Roads and Transport agencies are working towards a 50% reduction in road fatalities by 2030, with a further 30% decrease in serious injury crashes. “Improving driver behavior under the ‘safer people’ pillar of the National Road Safety Action Plan is crucial to achieving these targets,” he added.

A key focus of the campaign is educating drivers on recognizing fatigue and taking action before it becomes dangerous. “Science has long confirmed that the only true remedy for fatigue is sleep. Ignoring tiredness can lead to microsleeps, which often result in fatal consequences,” Mr Ward said.

To address this, the campaign promotes power naps as an effective fatigue management tool. “A 15 - 20 minute power nap can significantly improve concentration and situational awareness, reducing the risk of fatigue-related crashes,” he explained.

To support the initiative, the Power Nap campaign has developed free resources for workplaces, community groups, and individuals. A communications toolkit is available online at Resources - Power Nap.

“The road to zero fatalities is an ambitious goal, but tackling driver fatigue is a critical step towards making it a reality,” Mr Ward concluded.