VICSES Marong Unit volunteers, 3 November 2023 (photo credit: VICSES)

Today marks the debut of the first of our fleet of six new Driver Reviver Engagement Vans (DREVs) available to be activated throughout the state at key sites.

Two of the DREVs have been deployed on Friday from Bendigo and Chiltern for an inaugural Driver Reviver activation at Marong, and a community engagement event by the Wodonga Unit at the Albury Show.

The other four vehicles will be delivered to Geelong, Ballarat, Healesville, and Traralgon in the coming weeks, and will start to appear at Driver Reviver rest stops and other community engagement events over summer.

Funding for the six new DREVs was been provided by a federal government grant through the Office for Road Safety, for use at Driver Reviver rest stop activations over long weekends, and for other community events in Victoria.

Key features of the new vehicles include: catering facilities at the back, visual and interactive displays, and space for tables, chairs, and awnings.

One van will be sited on the service lane for the Calder Alternative Highway in Marong from 2:00pm today which is one of the state’s busiest Driver Reviver sites; with more than 1,500 motorists stopping on an average long weekend.

Several Drivers Reviver rest stops are active over the weekend so, if you’re heading away, make sure you stop in and stretch your legs.

Open sites:

Today (Friday)

• Marong 2:00pm - 10:00pm

• Bruthen 5:30pm - 10:00pm

• Cann River 7:00pm - midnight

Saturday

• Seymour 10:00am - 5:00pm

Tuesday

• Avenel 10:00am - 5:00pm

• Chiltern 10:00am - 2:00pm

Thanks to our VICSES Bendigo, Bruthen, Cann River, Chiltern, Marong and Seymour Unit members for giving up their time this weekend to operate these rest stops, and to help prevent road crash incidents in their communities.

Fatigue is one of the biggest contributors to deaths on our roads, and with an estimated 17 per cent of motor vehicle fatalities in Victoria related to sleep deprivation.

Our volunteers think would rather serve you a cup of coffee than cut you out of a car. This is why it is important to make the time to take routine breaks, at least every two hours, when planning a long drive.