Drivers travelling along western region roads over the next three months are being encouraged to stop, take a break and receive a free cuppa.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It's all part of the multi award winning Free Cuppa for the Driver scheme, which started on Sunday.
Seventy businesses across western NSW are poised and ready to serve drivers with a free cup of tea or coffee.
The businesses have teamed up with 14 local councils and the Roads and Maritime Service to promote fatigue awareness on most roads stretching from Bathurst to Moree and beyond.
The scheme will operate through to May 31, to include the Easter long weekend and April school holidays, when travellers are more prevalent
Blayney Shire Council Road Safety Officer Iris Dorsett said the project sees partnerships formed with local businesses who sell tea and coffee and are open a variety of different trading hours.
"There are 70 participating businesses, which is an amazing testament to the good will of businesses in our towns," Ms Dorsett said.
"I'm excited to see what sort of response the scheme will get from visiting drivers."
Fatigue crashes accounted for more than 12 per cent of all crashes in the participating council areas over the last five years, resulting in 52 fatalities and 1284 injuries.
The Free Cuppa for the Driver scheme is an initiative of Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Dubbo, Forbes, Gilgandra, Gwydir, Lachlan, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Orange, Parkes, Warrumbungle and Wellington Shire Councils.
