You Snooze, You Lose

“Rest or die.” “A powernap could save your life.” “Fatigue kills.” “The only cure for fatigue is sleep.” When driving down the long, flat, straight roads of eastern Victoria—with only the occasional sheep or cow to keep you entertained—the highway commission’s signs are the only things to look at for miles. And they’re really getting their message out there. With billboards every few hundred meters, frequent rest stops and messages intended to scare some sense into drivers, Victoria is trying its hardest to combat one of the biggest killers on Australia’s highways: chronic fatigue.

Because of those long, flat, straight stretches, drivers who are already tired are more likely to fall asleep, even if only for a moment. However, loss of control for just a second can cause a car to veer off the road or into another lane, endangering the driver and others around him, which is a point that the sign “A microsleep can kill” hammers home pretty well. Victoria’s message is simple: take a break from the monotony of the road, treat yourself to a quick nap, and take at least some of the danger out of driving. So the next time you feel your eyes drooping on the road, take the sign’s advice: “Droopy eyes? Pull over.” It’s possible that a brief powernap could save your life.