Thousands stop at State Driver Reviver rest stops over Easter

A record number of travellers took advantage of the sunny Easter weather to take a break at a State Driver Reviver rest stop over the long weekend and beat driver fatigue.

Around 5,500 people in 2,100 vehicles pulled in to the five stops nationwide where State staff handed out a total of 5,695 free sausages and 4,443 free coffees. Fruit, bottled water and activities for the kids were also available at each site.

“Our Driver Reviver events are run by staff volunteers who take great pride in playing their part to keep Kiwis safe on the roads.” Said Mary-Jane Daly, Executive General Manager, State.

“We can all be proud of the weekend’s positive driving results. The beautiful Easter weather meant we had record numbers of vehicles and travellers come through our sites. Come rain or shine, we’ll be back out on the roads combating driver fatigue over Labour weekend in October.”

Ministry of Transport provisional figures for 2011 show that 32 people died in crashes where fatigue was identified as a factor, while 139 suffered serious injuries and 601 suffered minor injuries. The total social cost of crashes involving fatigue in 2011 was an estimated $249 million.

The Easter road toll officially ended at 6am Tuesday 10 April, and it appears to be the first holiday weekend on record with no deaths from road crashes.

Go to www.state.co.nz/StateDriverReviver for more on the State Driver Reviver rest stops:


Ruakaka
Uretiti Weigh Station.
State Highway 1, 30km south of Whangarei
Monday 9 April, 10am - 6pm
1, 580 people stopped in 580 vehicles. State staff gave out 1,800 sausages and 1,001 coffees.

Putaruru
VTNZ Testing Station
State Highway 1, 2km south of Putaruru
Thursday 5 April, 2pm - 6pm
Friday 6 April, 10am - 2pm
1,057 people stopped in 450 vehicles. State staff gave out 1,175 sausages and 1,088 coffees.

Ohakea
Weigh Station
State Highway 1, 2km south of Bulls
Monday 9 April, 10am - 6pm
1,052 people stopped in 384 vehicles. State staff gave out 900 sausages and 770 coffees.

Lewis Pass
Engineers Camp
State Highway 7
Friday 6 April, 10am - 6pm
707 people stopped in 268 vehicles. State staff gave out 840 sausages and 644 coffees.

Ealing
Rest Area
State Highway 1, 110km south of Christchurch
Monday 9 April, 10am - 6pm
1,048 people stopped in 411 vehicles. State staff gave out 980 sausages and 940 coffees.