Free coffee for motorists in Louth this Bank Holiday weekend

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) along with Applegreen ere providing free cups of coffee and tea to drivers today and Monday, to help drivers stay alert behind the wheel.

At participating Applegreen stations between 2 and 8pm on Friday 29th July and Monday 1 August, drivers can get a free hot beverage by mentioning 'RSA' to the till operator.

Louth County Council’s Road Safety Officer, Adrian O’Sullivan, is also encouraging everyone to do their part to stay safe over the bank holiday weekend.

Mr O'Sullivan has the following advice to all road users. “There will be increased amounts of traffic on the roads as we head off on a well-deserved break and for many there will be long journeys ahead. Driver fatigue can creep up on you slowly and it is impossible to fight it and the risks can be tragic. Recognise the signs that you are becoming tired behind the wheel take appropriate action and protect not just yourself but your passengers and other road-users.  You should never fight sleep at the wheel.”

Research carried out by the Road Safety Authority has found that 28% of motorists in Ireland say they have fallen asleep or nodded off, even if only for a moment when driving. Among people who drive for work, this figure increases to 33%.  Those most at risk from driver fatigue are:

• Young men
• People working night shifts
• Those who drive for a living 
• People with sleep disorders, such as sleep apnoea.

The Road Safety Officer has also appealed to passengers to do their bit. “Tiredness related collisions can have catastrophic consequences as drivers are less likely to take avoiding actions, so if you’re in a car being driven by a tired driver, speak up. Ask them to pull over safely and follow the ‘Stop Sip Sleep’ advice”. I would urge all those travelling this weekend to plan their journeys and don’t try to fight sleep at the wheel. Turning the radio up or opening the window will not prevent fatigue.

"The only cure for tiredness is sleep.  Many sleep-related crashes are due to lifestyle issues such as driving without adequate sleep, whilst others are due to various medical conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome, neurological conditions or the use of certain prescription and non-prescription (over the counter) medicines.”

“Anyone taking medications that are in doubt should check with their doctor or pharmacist who will advise about treatment and any restrictions to their licence, to ensure they keep themselves and other safe while driving” added the Road Safety Officer.