The Road Safety Authority has teamed up with Applegreen to ensure drivers are kept alert over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Since January, 124 people have died on Ireland’s roads – a decrease of 32 on the same period in 2016. Five people have died in Donegal, with many more being seriously injured in collisions across Ireland. This safety message has been issued ahead of the clocks going back on Sunday, meaning motorists will have an hour less of sunlight.
To help make this Bank Holiday a safe one for Donegal roads, the RSA are encouraging drivers to Stop, Sip, and Sleep if you’re feeling drowsy behind the wheel.
To avail of a free cuppa, just say ‘RSA’ or ‘Driver Reviver’ at the till between 2pm and 8pm today, and between the same times on Bank Holiday Monday (October 30th).
Donegal stores that are taking part include:
- Lafferty’s Applegreen Service Station, Creeslough
- Applegreen Letterkenny, Derry road
- Applegreen Buncrana
If you’re travelling outside of the county, check out their map to see which stores are participating across the country.
With driver fatigue being a contributory factor in as many as 1 in 5 driver deaths in Ireland every year, the RSA estimate that tiredness-related collisions are 3 times more likely to be fatal or result in serious injury due to the high impact speed and lack of avoiding action.
If a driver fights sleep while driving, it’s the same as driving while over the drink-drive limit.
The RSA has the following advice for tired drivers:
- Stop, park in a safe place and take a nap for 15 minutes (set your mobile phone alarm). This is the most important tactic.
- To really make the most of the break, take a caffeine drink before the nap (150mg of caffeine e.g. 2 cups of coffee).
- After the nap, the caffeine should have started to take effect.
- Then get some fresh air and stretch your legs for a few minutes.
- By following all of the above advice you should be able to drive for another hour or so.
