'Enough is enough': Police to target tired drivers in road safety blitz
09/06/2024 04:34 PM
NSW Police has announced a new crackdown targeting fatigued drivers on the state’s roads. But is it actually illegal to drive while tired?
New South Wales Highway Patrol recently announced a new road safety blitz called Operation RAID, which will see them target drink driving, drug driving and fatigue – the three major contributors to the state's annual road toll.
RELATED: Is it illegal to drink while driving in Australia?
On September 4, 2024, NSW Police announced it would "undertake high-volume stationary and mobile random breath and drug testing in addition to speaking with motorists regarding their fatigue levels”.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said that “enough is enough” when it comes to motorists dying on our roads.
"We are launching this high-visibility road operation to remind road users that enough is enough – every community member needs to take responsibility for their behaviour. If everyone works together and thinks of others, we can prevent the significant harm that road trauma causes our community," Driver said in a statement.
While drunk driving and drug driving are criminal offences nationwide, can you be fined or arrested for driving while tired in Australia?
Is it illegal to drive while tired?
There is no specific road rule related to driving while fatigued. However, you can be fined for reckless or negligent driving if your fatigue is deemed dangerous by a police officer or causes a collision.
If you are found guilty of reckless, dangerous or negligent driving, you will face a large court-appointed fine, which can carry a loss of licence for minor accidents, or jail time if your driving has caused grievous bodily harm or death, under the Crimes Act s52A.
Despite there being no specific law for fatigued driving in a light vehicle, heavy vehicle drivers must adhere to strict logbook rules that require them to rest for a certain period depending on their work hours. The specific guidelines for heavy vehicle drivers can be found here.
Fines can range from $4470 for a minor risk breach, up to a maximum of $22,790.
Transport NSW offers the following advice: "Research shows that driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as drink driving. But unlike drink driving, there are no laws regulating driver fatigue for light vehicles".
"Fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip, no matter how long or short or what time of day. Think about how tired you are before you drive, recognise the early warning signs when driving, and know what to do to avoid driving tired."
The dangers of driving while tired
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Monash University have conducted numerous studies about the dangers of fatigued driving.
"While not always deliberate behaviour, driving when tired is a contributing factor in between 16–20 per cent of all road crashes in Victoria. Even brief lapses in concentration can have serious consequences," says the TAC.
"Research from Monash University has found: The risk of crashing after five hours of sleep was 4.4 times compared to eight hours of sleep, and the risk at least doubles as we move to lower levels of sleep (under five hours)".
When planning to drive somewhere, you should aim for at least seven hours of sleep the night before, avoid driving at times when you're normally sleeping, take a break at least every two hours on a long drive, and share the driving duties with a friend.
There are thousands of rest areas littered throughout Australia's highway network, which should be utilised for a nap or general break from driving when you are feeling fatigued.
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