Can you pull over on a road shoulder if tired Victoria

It is important to recognise the warning signs of fatigue and take appropriate action.

Being awake for more than 17 hours has a similar effect on performance as having a blood alcohol content of more than 0.05. So don't put yourself at risk.

Warning signs of tiredness

The risks of driving when tired apply even when you do not fall asleep at the wheel. Even short lapses in concentration caused by tiredness or drowsiness can have serious consequences on your driving.

When you are experiencing fatigue, your brain can have short periods of sleep called 'microsleeps'. Microsleeps can last from a fraction of a second, up to 10 full seconds. You cannot control them.

It is important to recognise the warning signs of tiredness. These include:

• yawning
• noticing your eyes closing for a moment or going out of focus
• blinking more than usual
• feeling drowsy, tired or exhausted
• having trouble keeping your head up
• forgetting the previous few minutes of driving
• starting to 'see' things
• droning and humming in ears
• general tiredness
• stiffness and cramps
• aches and pains
• daydreaming
• experiencing slower reaction times
• changing speed without reason
• fumbling for gear changes
• drifting in the lane or over lane lines.

Tips to avoid driving tired

Before driving:

• get a good night's sleep
• avoid driving at times you're normally sleeping
• avoid long drives after a day's work
• understand the effects any medicine you're taking might have on your driving
• plan ahead – work out rest stops and overnight stops

When driving:

• take regular breaks – you should stop for at least 15 minutes every 2 hours
• share the driving if you can
• use rest areas, tourist spots and driver reviver stops
• stop and rest as soon as you feel tired
• never drive for more than 10 hours in a single day

The driver reviver program aims to reduce the effects of driving tired by encouraging motorists to 'STOP REVIVE SURVIVE'.

View the driver reviver timetable.

Rest areas

There are rest areas across the Queensland road network open all year round to help you manage your fatigue and not drive tired. There are 3 different types of rest areas available:

• motorist rest areas—for general and recreational vehicles (including caravans and motorhomes) only
• heavy vehicle rest areas—exclusively for heavy vehicles only
• combined motorist and heavy vehicle rest areas—where there are designated areas for trucks, and general and recreational vehicles.

General and recreational vehicles can stop at a rest area for up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise, but they are not camping sites or an accommodation option. It is important motorists use rest areas designated for the type of vehicle they are driving. Check with the authority responsible for the relevant rest area for more information.

Truck drivers need to be able to rest in the heavy vehicle rest areas – they should not be used by other motorists, or to stop and camp.

Fines may apply if you are not driving a commercial or heavy vehicle and you are found using a heavy vehicle rest area. These fines are in place to make sure truck drivers get to take their legislated rest breaks when using Queensland roads.

Wide Centre line and Audible tactile line marking

Wide centre line treatments replace the existing dividing centre line/s on a road with two new lines approximately one metre apart, which creates a greater distance between opposing directions of traffic. This extra distance between opposing directions of traffic provides additional reaction time if a driver unintentionally drifts across the centre line towards oncoming traffic.

Audible tactile line marking are small raised white bumps that alert motorists through sound and vibration when they are veering out of their lane into oncoming traffic or the edge of the road.

The facts

• Driving when tired is a contributing factor in between 16-20% of all road crashes in Victoria.
• Fatigue is a major cause of crashes in Victoria, around 30 people die each year and up to 200 people suffer serious injuries due to these types of crashes (5 year average).
• 37% of people admit to driving while tired. That’s 1.6 million Victorians that are driving when tired each year.
• If you fall asleep for just four seconds while travelling at a speed of 100 km/h, the car will have gone 111 metres without you being in control.
• After being awake for 17 hours you will be impaired to the same level as someone with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05.
• Fatigue isn’t only an issue on long distance drives, it is still a risk for short drives.
• People generally don't become fatigued from driving. Usually they are already tired when they get behind the wheel from long hours, shift work, lack of sleep, sleep apnoea or physically demanding roles.

Staying safe when driving

Avoiding driver fatigue

We spend around one third of our lifetime sleeping, and that’s because we need to. When we’re not getting enough sleep we become a risk on the road to ourselves and others.

Causes of drowsy driving

• a lack of quality sleep
• extreme tiredness brought on by not enough rest, this can also be due to mental or physical exertion or illness.
• driving when you would normally be sleeping (overnight)
• sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, a sleeping condition that causes tiredness throughout the day.

Many people try to trick themselves into staying awake by listening to loud music, eating sugary treats or turning on the car air conditioning and opening the windows. These methods might feel effective initially however they won’t stop you being tired. It’s important to realise that you can’t fight sleep.

How fatigue affects your driving

While driving tired you might find you:

• Have trouble remembering the last few kilometres driven, day dream or miss exits or traffic signs.
• Drift from your lane, tailgate, hit a shoulder rumble strip or have difficulty maintaining a consistent, correct speed.
• Find yourself waiting at traffic lights or not seeing lights change.
• Have a slower reaction time when braking or stopping at intersections.

How to avoid tired driving

How to beat driver fatigue

The only way to address fatigue is by sleeping. Make a choice not to drive when tired or follow these guidelines to prevent fatigue:

• Get a good night's sleep before heading off on a long trip.
• Plan your route before you go and map out where you’ll take a break. Use the VicRoads map  to find a rest stop on your way. Find rest stops on the VicRoads website
• Don't travel for more than eight to ten hours a day.
• Take regular breaks – at least every two hours.
• Share the driving wherever possible
• Don't drink alcohol before your trip. Even a small amount can significantly contribute to driver fatigue.
• Don't travel at times when you'd usually be sleeping.
• Take a 15 minute powernap if you feel yourself becoming drowsy.

How to know if you are tired

The signs of tiredness include:

• yawning
• sore or heavy eyes
• slower reaction times
• finding you're daydreaming and not concentrating on your driving
• driving speed creeps up or down
• impatience
• impaired driving performance such as poor gear changes
• stiffness and cramps
• loss of motivation
• Microsleeps which can be as little as a few seconds, your head may nod and then jerk to wake you up.

What we are doing about tired driving

• Encouraging the use of rest stops through partnerships with SES and local community groups. Find out more about our TAC Pause Stops
• Public education campaigns to increase awareness of the risks of tired driving

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