105 Businesses take the Opportunity
Published on 23 October 2018
One hundred and five businesses across the Hunter, Southern, South West and Western NSW have signed up to participate in the 2019 ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme, where drivers who have travelled more than one hundred kilometres from the address on their drivers licence are eligible for a free cup of tea or coffee from those participating businesses.
This scheme, which operates from March to May annually, will see over twenty three local council areas working together to implement the successful and multi-award winning ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme in a bid to reduce tired drivers and fatigue related crashes on roads in NSW.
Gilgandra Shire Council’s Road Safety Officer, Jayne Bleechmore, said that the second biggest killer on NSW roads is driver fatigue.
“When you fall asleep behind the wheel you’re not able to react, slow down or avoid hazards, which means the crash is more likely to be fatal,” said Ms Bleechmore.
This scheme allows drivers to access a ‘free cuppa’ from participating businesses who have a variety of trading hours, which improves the schemes accessibility.
‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ is an initiative of the Local Government Road Safety program and provides participating businesses with takeaway cups, banners and all other resources required, while the free cuppa itself is directly provided by participating businesses.
“If it wasn’t for our dedicated participating businesses who supply the ‘free cuppa’, then this scheme would not be possible and I would like to thank the 17 enthusiastic businesses in the Dubbo Regional Council area who are taking part in next year’s scheme,” said Ms Bleechmore.
Registered businesses in the Gilgandra Shire Council area for 2019 are:
Gilgandra Services Club
Gilgandra Sporting Club
Homestyle Diner & Takeaway, (Shell Roadhouse)
Royal Hotel Gilgandra
Mountain View Hotel Tooraweenah
Tooraweenah Motors & General Store
The ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme will officially launch on 1 March 2019 and will continue to offer free coffee and teas until 31 May 2019.
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 everyone is encouraged to like to keep up to date on the scheme and it’s participating businesses.
This scheme compliments Driver Reviver, which is a national initiative targeting driver fatigue and the Driver Reviver sites will be offering free cuppas to travellers over the upcoming Christmas school holiday period. To find out locations and opening times please visit www.tollgroup.com/driverreviver.