ROAD SAFETY: 13 MARCH 2017

‘Free Cuppa’ initiative aims to reduce driver fatigue

The seventh year of the multi-award-winning ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ initiative has been launched and will run through until Wednesday 31 May in a bid to reduce fatigue-related crashes on NSW roads.

Free Cuppa for the Driver is a successful initiative that allows drivers who have travelled more than 100 kilometres to qualify for a free cup of tea or coffee from a choice of 92 participating businesses in Central and South-West NSW.

Road Safety Officer for Orange City and Cabonne Shire Councils, Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan, explained that this initiative targets drivers travelling in areas with NSW highways and roads that are the gateway to major cities, such as Melbourne and Brisbane. These highways include the Castlereagh, Gwydir, Golden, Great Western, Hume, Mitchell, Newell and Oxley.

Fatigue is one of the biggest killers on NSW roads, with it contributing to 72 fatal crashes in NSW over the last 12 months.

“Free Cuppa for the Driver doesn’t just target drivers travelling in cars or caravans but also heavy vehicles, because truck drivers also face the risk of becoming fatigued whilst driving,” Ms Hamilton-Vaughan said.

Since its inception in 2010, more than 5700 free cuppas have been given away from 185 participating businesses throughout 161 cities, towns and villages in Western NSW.

Drivers can use the Free Cuppa for the Driver App and its GPS tracking technology to find a nearby participating business and the type of parking available. There is also a Free Cuppa website (http://freecuppa.com.au) and Facebook page that offers useful information on participating businesses and the initiative itself.

Visitor Information Centres from Victoria to Queensland have received Free Cuppa for the Driver brochures which include information about participating businesses, competitions and contact details of coordinators of the initiative.

Based on information supplied by Cabonne Council.