Businesses join forces to reduce driver fatigue crashes on NSW roads

Two Blue Mountains businesses have put their hands up to help fight driver fatigue and reduce the road toll by offering free ‘cuppas’ to tired drivers.

Our local businesses are joining more than 100 businesses across regional NSW to participate in the next phase of the successful Free Cuppa for the Driver scheme that has been running for 11 years.

Participating businesses are encouraging drivers to take regular breaks by offering a free cup of tea or coffee to any driver who is more than 100kms away from home. Since 2010, over 25,000 free cuppas have been given away.  During that time, across NSW fatigue-related crashes have fallen 19%.

Blue Mountains City Council Mayor Mark Greenhill said that the second biggest killer on NSW roads is drivers who are tired.

“If it wasn’t for the participating businesses including our Visitor Information Centre at Echo Point supplying the ‘free cuppa’, then this scheme wouldn’t be possible. I would like to thank the new businesses for taking part in this year’s scheme,” Mayor Greenhill said.

“We are proud to do our bit for driver fatigue. If you’re travelling, Free Cuppa for the Driver is a great reason to stop in the Blue Mountains and take an all-important break.”

An initiative of local councils and Transport for NSW, the Free Cuppa for the Driver scheme runs each year from 1 March to 31 May. 

This is the first year the Blue Mountains has participated in the project and ‘Free Cuppa’ also welcomes Mid-Western, Cootamundra-Gundagai and Wentworth shires who are new to the scheme.

The local participating businesses for 2021 are:

And for Blue Mountains residents undertaking a road trip to other locations this will be a great incentive to take a break. ‘Free Cuppas’ are available from a broad range of businesses with varied opening hours, making regular breaks and free cuppas more accessible than ever.

The ‘Free Cuppa’ website freecuppa.com.au allows drivers to search for the nearest participating business as well as find useful information on the scheme.  There is also an active Facebook page that will keep you up to date on the scheme and the participating businesses.

Photo: Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill proudly supports Free Cuppa for the Driver, a regional road safety initiative encouraging drivers to take a break at participating locations.