Andrea Helen Hamilton-Vaughan pictured presenting the power nap strategy at the road transport industry round table in Federal Parliament on my left Mr. Michael Kaine, CEO of the Transport Workers Union and on my right, Mr Tim Dawson, Chair, Industry Skills Australia (Transport & Logistics).
National Driver Fatigue Week (21–27 February) is shining a spotlight on one of the most dangerous and underestimated risks on Australian roads — driver fatigue — led by a local woman whose lived experience has grown into an award-winning national road safety campaign.
Parkes advocate Andrea Helen Hamilton-Vaughan has turned personal tragedy into action, creating the Power Nap fatigue prevention campaign now gaining national recognition across the heavy vehicle and road safety sectors.
Driver fatigue is a factor in more than 20 per cent of Australia’s road fatalities, yet for decades drivers have been told to simply “get a good night’s sleep” or “take regular breaks” — advice that does little to help when fatigue strikes while already behind the wheel.
“The science is clear,” Ms HamiltonVaughan said. “Fatigue is not solved by willpower. The only solution for fatigue is sleep. A short, planned power nap when fatigue first appears can save lives.”
National Driver Fatigue Week promotes the Power Nap message — encouraging drivers to stop and take a 15–20 minute nap at the earliest signs of fatigue.
Research shows this simple intervention restores alertness, improves reaction time and significantly reduces crash risk, with modelling suggesting fatigue-related fatalities could be reduced by up to 20 per cent if widely adopted.
What began as a grassroots campaign has grown into a nationally recognised safety initiative, earning multiple industry awards.