One ‘nightrider’ a week killed on our roads as drivers urged to ‘wake up’ to dangers
THEY are known as “nightriders’ — those motorists on the road between 10pm and 3am. And it’s also proving to be the most-deadly time to be on the road, with one driver a killed a week.
NSW
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AN alarming spike in road deaths during the graveyard hours of 10pm to 3am has triggered a heartfelt plea from the State Government and an urgent “wake up call” campaign.
The hours either side of midnight have increasingly become a deadly time for “nightriders” with new figures revealing 52 drivers were killed in the past financial year, up from 35 the previous year.
Younger motorists were the biggest casualties, accounting for 44 per cent of deaths.
Of the 23 motorists killed who were aged between 17 and 25, eight were P-plate licence holders with speeding, alcohol, drugs and fatigue the major crash factors.
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NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said the State Government’s new social media blitz would highlight the dangers of getting behind the wheel during those five hours.
“It’s a 10pm to 3am wake up call,” Ms Pavey told The Sunday Telegraph.
“It’s so upsetting to wake up every morning and see how many fatal accidents there have been.
“If you’re a nightrider, make sure it’s you that is in total control behind the wheel.”
The 17 to 25-year-old road toll increased from 16 in 2016/17 to 31 the following year. Drivers aged between 30 and 39 had the next highest death rate.
Not surprisingly, Friday and Saturday nights were the most dangerous.
The Sunday and Daily Telegraph, together with Transport NSW, have launched a road safety campaigning urging motorists to Think And Drive.
NSW Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said the fatalities were very concerning, despite less traffic on the roads late at night.
“Young drivers much more likely to be crashing at this time compared to the rest of the community,” Mr Carlon said.
“We’ve got the evidence so we know what the problems are, when they’re happening and what’s driving these problems so we can actually do something about it.”
He said staying awake for more than 17 hours was equivalent to having a blood-alcohol content of 0.05 and he advised all drivers to avoid being on the road.
“Sleep, don’t travel at this time, or organise not to be on the road late at night, because a bit of pre-planning is the best way of avoiding driving in those very small hours of the morning,” he said.
Ms Pavey said the 10pm to 3am warning wasn’t about “being caught — it’s about being killed. We just need to say ‘stop it’.
“The trauma that you leave behind is life changing.
“Do not think you’re invincible because you’ve got a couple of drinks in you or other substances and think that it’s okay and safe to drive.”
The campaign, launching today, will run across NSW Centre for Road Safety social media channels.