Latest news with #DriverReviver
The Age
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Age
These iconic long-weekend pit stops have saved countless lives. But they are now harder to find
NSW reached a peak of about 98 sites in 2004, but this fell to 56 in 2025. The SES did not have historical figures for Driver Reviver volunteer numbers, nor total hours dedicated per year. Some SES numbers were also rough estimates due to incomplete records. Fast facts about the Driver Reviver program About 220 sites dotted Australia in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, there are 175 sites and only 160 remain operational – a 27.3 per cent drop. New sites since 2023 include: Hinchinbrook (QLD), Campbelltown (TAS), Geurie (NSW), Mount Barker (WA), Springsure (QLD), Orford (TAS). Closed sites since 2023 include: Stawell (VIC), Gingin (WA), Kangaroo Valley (NSW), Port Pirie (SA), Williams (SA). Source: VICSES 'The main reasons for Driver Reviver closures over the decades is a combination of urban growth and road infrastructure upgrades, including bypasses and service centres with commercial operations that can substitute Driver Reviver with improved amenities,' the SES briefing note said. 'Shorter routes and speed limit increases are also getting people away from the city quicker.' Allan and Rhonda McCormac founded the national Driver Reviver network in 1989, bringing together a patchwork of independent roadside rest hubs before expanding further. The couple retired in 2022 and handed oversight to Victoria's SES, which works with Lions Clubs and other community groups to staff the sites. Allan McCormac, 83, says the decline in Driver Reviver sites was not necessarily a bad thing if roads were being made safer and people were resting elsewhere. 'It's dynamic, and it needs to change all the time to suit new roads,' he says. 'There are new freeways put in that mean that some of the old sites become redundant.' McCormac believes Driver Reviver still offers something unique compared to service stations. 'The people stopping are engaging with the volunteers, and that builds our culture,' he says. 'And that's something you don't get in a commercial operation.' Pandemic restrictions, however, hurt face-to-face volunteering and forced dozens of Driver Reviver sites to shutter. The SES says some sites, such as a stop in Stawell, permanently closed in the last two years as volunteering failed to recover after the pandemic. However, the agency says new and reactivated sites surpassed closures. 'Whilst overall volunteer numbers have remained fairly consistent in recent years, VICSES units across the state are always looking for new volunteers,' a spokesperson said. This King's Birthday weekend, the SES reports 71 sites will be active across Australia at different times, including 36 in NSW, 22 in Queensland, 10 in Victoria and three in South Australia. The Victorian sites are Avenel, Balmattum Northbound, Balmattum Southbound, Dimboola, Dunkeld, Lismore, Marong, Rushworth, and Seymour. Hot tea and coffee is served without a lid, so drivers must stick around and take a longer break to finish it, rather than hitting the road immediately.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
These iconic long-weekend pit stops have saved countless lives. But they are now harder to find
NSW reached a peak of about 98 sites in 2004, but this fell to 56 in 2025. The SES did not have historical figures for Driver Reviver volunteer numbers, nor total hours dedicated per year. Some SES numbers were also rough estimates due to incomplete records. Fast facts about the Driver Reviver program About 220 sites dotted Australia in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, there are 175 sites and only 160 remain operational – a 27.3 per cent drop. New sites since 2023 include: Hinchinbrook (QLD), Campbelltown (TAS), Geurie (NSW), Mount Barker (WA), Springsure (QLD), Orford (TAS). Closed sites since 2023 include: Stawell (VIC), Gingin (WA), Kangaroo Valley (NSW), Port Pirie (SA), Williams (SA). Source: VICSES 'The main reasons for Driver Reviver closures over the decades is a combination of urban growth and road infrastructure upgrades, including bypasses and service centres with commercial operations that can substitute Driver Reviver with improved amenities,' the SES briefing note said. 'Shorter routes and speed limit increases are also getting people away from the city quicker.' Allan and Rhonda McCormac founded the national Driver Reviver network in 1989, bringing together a patchwork of independent roadside rest hubs before expanding further. The couple retired in 2022 and handed oversight to Victoria's SES, which works with Lions Clubs and other community groups to staff the sites. Allan McCormac, 83, says the decline in Driver Reviver sites was not necessarily a bad thing if roads were being made safer and people were resting elsewhere. 'It's dynamic, and it needs to change all the time to suit new roads,' he says. 'There are new freeways put in that mean that some of the old sites become redundant.' McCormac believes Driver Reviver still offers something unique compared to service stations. 'The people stopping are engaging with the volunteers, and that builds our culture,' he says. 'And that's something you don't get in a commercial operation.' Pandemic restrictions, however, hurt face-to-face volunteering and forced dozens of Driver Reviver sites to shutter. The SES says some sites, such as a stop in Stawell, permanently closed in the last two years as volunteering failed to recover after the pandemic. However, the agency says new and reactivated sites surpassed closures. 'Whilst overall volunteer numbers have remained fairly consistent in recent years, VICSES units across the state are always looking for new volunteers,' a spokesperson said. This King's Birthday weekend, the SES reports 71 sites will be active across Australia at different times, including 36 in NSW, 22 in Queensland, 10 in Victoria and three in South Australia. The Victorian sites are Avenel, Balmattum Northbound, Balmattum Southbound, Dimboola, Dunkeld, Lismore, Marong, Rushworth, and Seymour. Hot tea and coffee is served without a lid, so drivers must stick around and take a longer break to finish it, rather than hitting the road immediately.
NZ Herald
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Free AMI Roadside Rescue service for AMI comprehensive car insurance customers
This article was prepared by AMI Insurance and is being published by the New Zealand Herald as advertorial. No limit on callouts, for you, your car (or whoever is driving yours) and no extra form-filling – just great value car insurance with a side of AMI Roadside Rescue. Starting this week, AMI is setting a new service standard for customers by including free, nationwide AMI Roadside Rescue in its AMI Comprehensive Car insurance policies*. The new service will be available for all new Comprehensive Car insurance customers at sign-up or activated automatically for existing customers at their policy renewal. Dean MacGregor, AMI Executive General Manager Supply Chain and Hub Services says: 'As a leading insurer, we want to be there for New Zealanders in their time of need. 'We are committed to making things easy for our customers – whether that's deploying our AMI HomeHub teams to assist immediately following a natural hazard event, getting vehicles repaired, serviced and back out on the road sooner through our AMI MotorHubs, for a jump start, a tow after a breakdown, or to make a quick tyre change via our nationwide AMI Roadside Rescue network – we are dedicated to being there to get our customers back on their feet as quickly as possible. 'Our customers tell us they're not interested in loads of form filling, extra 'membership fees' and discounts for services they're never going to use. They just want access to fast, exceptional roadside rescue, where and when they need it.' AMI Roadside 'Rescue Road' keeping an eye on holiday highway traffic To celebrate this announcement, AMI Roadside Rescue will be operating New Zealand's first 'AMI Rescue Road' for drivers travelling popular holiday highways this King's Birthday and Matariki long weekends. This means that AMI Roadside Rescue will provide free roadside services for all drivers** (regardless of whether they are an AMI customer or not) who may require help during the journey along a popular stretch of the holiday highway. This long weekend, the first Rescue Road will be active from 5pm, Friday May 30 to 6am, Tuesday June 3, along parts of State Highway 7 (SH7) and State Highway 7A (SH7A) from Waipara to Hanmer Springs. This service will be complemented by an AMI Driver Reviver roadside rest-stop at the Hurunui Rest Area from 11am to 4pm on Monday, June 2. AMI Driver Reviver roadside rest-stops encourage drivers to take a break when travelling long distances. Run by AMI's community risk team, these are held in partnership with local district councils, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, New Zealand Police, Hato Hone St John and other community organisations. ** King's Birthday Weekend Activation Ts&Cs apply.
