Fatigue isn’t just about long drives. It can strike close to home, after a full day at work or during everyday trips when routines feel familiar. While many people associate fatigue with extended travel, the reality is that tiredness can affect anyone at any time, often before they even get behind the wheel.
Life doesn’t slow down just because a trip is short or familiar. Many Tasmanians juggle work, family, social commitments and busy schedules, often carrying fatigue with them before they even get behind the wheel.
Fatigue is a hidden but significant factor in road crashes. Data suggests that around 15 to 20 per cent of serious and fatal crashes in Tasmania involve poor decision making, including fatigue, distraction and inattention, which are all common indicators of driver fatigue.
To address this risk, the Road Safety Advisory Council is supporting the Tired Mistakes fatigue campaign, originally developed by the Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC). The campaign is being delivered in Tasmania across television, radio and digital platforms and reinforces a simple message. Fatigue can strike at any time and it doesn’t discriminate.
The Tired Mistakes ads focus on small, relatable lapses people make when tired. Throwing your phone in the bin instead of the rubbish, forgetting where you parked, leaving your keys in the fridge or sending a text to the wrong person. These everyday mistakes help people recognise how fatigue affects judgement and attention. If tiredness can cause simple errors, its impact on split second driving decisions can be far more serious.
The campaign is supported by research from Monash University and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), which found drivers are four times more likely to crash after only five hours’ sleep, compared to eight hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.
Recent Road Safety Advisory Council surveys also show that fatigue is a common experience for Tasmanian drivers. More than half of respondents, 52 per cent, admitted to driving tired at least occasionally in the three months prior to the survey. Of those drivers, 63 per cent cited lack of sleep, 46 per cent long work hours or shift work, and 35 per cent long drives as contributors. Younger drivers were especially likely to link fatigue to poor sleep and demanding work schedules.
Fatigue is as dangerous as speeding or drink driving. Whether you’re planning a long journey or a short, familiar trip, getting enough sleep and recognising the early warning signs can save lives, including your own and those of other road users.
Know the signs of fatigue
Driving behaviour signs
• Missing road signs, exits or landmarks
• Slowing down or speeding up unintentionally
• Braking too late
• Delayed reaction times
• Wandering thoughts
Physical signs
• Yawning
• Blinking more than usual
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Eyes closing or going out of focus
• Forgetting the last few kilometres driven