A fatigue expert is warning drivers to take extra care over Easter, with increased traffic, disrupted routines and the end of daylight saving combining to heighten risk on New Zealand roads.
The holiday period is already associated with higher road trauma, with five deaths recorded over Easter 2025, nine in 2024 and 10 in 2023.
AutoSense fatigue and sleep specialist Katrina Aubrey says this year’s timing creates a convergence of risk factors for both commercial drivers and those travelling with family and friends.
“Fatigue doesn’t take holidays – and neither does human physiology. This Easter, increased traffic, long-distance travel and disrupted routines are colliding with a daylight saving shift. Even though we technically gain an hour, our body clocks don’t reset overnight. For many drivers, it can take up to a week, sometimes two, for alertness and sleep patterns to stabilise again.”
Data from AutoSense highlights the scale of fatigue risk on New Zealand roads. Analysis from nearly 6000 Guardian by Seeing Machines cameras installed in commercial vehicles recorded 19,336 human-verified fatigue events and 51,597 distraction events over a 12-month period, prompting an average of 53 driver wake-up interventions each day.
Aubrey says the data provides a baseline that may worsen during peak travel periods.
“These figures show fatigue is already present every day on New Zealand roads. When you factor in longer journeys, altered routines, and heavier traffic over Easter, the risk of fatigue-related incidents increases. For some, Easter travel follows a demanding work week, while for others it means early departures, late returns or unfamiliar routes. When these factors collide with circadian disruption, even brief lapses in attention can carry serious consequences.”
The data also shows mobile phone use accounted for 14,575 distraction events, about 28%, with the remaining 72% linked to other in-cab distractions such as adjusting music or navigation.
Aubrey says fatigue and distraction often occur together.
“Fatigue and distraction often go hand-in-hand. When drivers are tired, their ability to manage competing demands reduces. Holiday travel can increase cognitive load – unfamiliar routes, heavier traffic and time pressure – all of which can increase risk.”
She says the daylight saving change can affect alertness through changes in light exposure.
“Light is one of the strongest cues for alertness. When daylight patterns shift, it can influence melatonin production, alertness and reaction time. For drivers undertaking longer journeys, particularly later in the day, that change can subtly increase fatigue risk.”
Aubrey says managing fatigue in New Zealand relies heavily on driver awareness and planning, rather than enforcement measures seen in some overseas markets.
“Behaviour changes when risk is visible. Where enforcement increases, drivers tend to be more cautious. In New Zealand, managing fatigue relies heavily on awareness, planning and organisational support – especially for drivers at work.”
AutoSense is encouraging drivers to take a proactive approach this Easter, including:
- Plan breaks every two hours, regardless of how alert you feel
- Avoid early departures following disrupted sleep
- Allow extra travel time to reduce pressure
- Recognise early fatigue signs, including heavy eyelids, drifting speed or lane wandering
- Avoid relying on caffeine as a substitute for sleep
“Fatigue can impair you in ways similar to alcohol. Easter should be about getting to your destination safely and not pushing through tiredness to save time. The safest drivers this weekend will be the ones who recognise fatigue early and take action.
“Behind every fatigue alert is a person with a family waiting for them. When fatigue, distraction and increased travel collide, the risk rises. Recognising that perfect storm – and planning for it – is one of the most effective ways to keep drivers and everyone sharing the road safe this Easter.”
