With Irish roads set to be largely busy over the coming bank holiday weekend motorists are being advised by the RSA to take breaks when ever they feel tired. This announcement by the countries road authority has prompted Mayo County Council to come up with an ingenious way of inserting the message into motorists minds by placing road signs featuring the nations favourite housekeeper Mrs Doyle from Father Ted around the entire county along with the message “Go on, Go on, Take a break”.
Mayo County Council hope that the clever and humorous campaign will avidly remind drivers to stop and freshen up and think about the dangerous consequences of driving when tired. It is understood that the move comes after the Road Safety Authority released statistics this week which shows that tiredness is one of the major contributory factors in the cause of deaths on the nations roads this year.
The RSA have issued an media campaign advising motorists to stop in a safe place, drink a caffeine drink and sleep for 15 to 20 minutes when ever they feel tired.
The move has been heavily backed by Mayo’s Road Safety Officer Noel Gibbons who says the August bank holiday weekend is by far one of the busiest and deadliest weekends on the county’s and country’s roads. Mr Gibbons said: “This is a way to highlight the fatigue issue. Make no mistake – fatigue is a serious killer. “This is more important for Ireland now than ever before because we are beginning to have long continuous stretches of motorway. “Especially at this time of year, when people on holidays tend to drive long distances across the country, the dangers of fatigue are at their worst.
Mr Gibbons added: “Take regular breaks when you are driving long distances, share the driving if you can, and never ignore the tell-tale warning signs of fatigue.”