Friday, January 24, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

DRIVER REVIVER PROVING POPULAR WITH HIGHWAY DRIVERS AT BOWEN

Drivers on the Bruce Highway are taking advantage of the Driver Reviver Station located at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre, next to the Big Mango on the Bruce Highway, just 5km south. The centre has been providing free coffee to drivers for a long time but officially became a “Driver Reviver” location last year, with signs installed on the highway last April.
Since then, the service has become increasingly popular. Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy, said the organisation was proud to promote driver safety and provide free tea, coffee, biscuits, and cold water to travellers. In the first two weeks of January, more than 100 people took advantage of the service.
“We encourage people to take a break, especially when travelling long distances, and the signs on the highway direct them to us,” she said.
The Driver Reviver service was previously located across the road from the Big Mango at the Mount Gordon Rest Stop, but it was usually only manned during school holidays. By having the service located at the Visitor Information Centre, people can stop any time of the year. The centre is open from 9am until 5pm on weekdays and then 10am until 3pm on weekends.
They operate on public holidays from 10.30am until 3pm and are only closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday. Driver Reviver is a national program that has been operating since 1989. The program is about promoting road safety and helping to reduce the road toll by addressing fatigue-related road trauma.

Bowen Tourism and Business team member Melissa Beuzeville with Steve and Kathy Dietrich from Hervey Bay at Driver Reviver station at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre this week. Photo Supplied: Leanne Abernethy
The sign just south of the Big Mango, promoting the Driver Reviver station at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre. Photo Supplied: Leanne Abernethy

In other news