Authorities are appealing for people to take extra care on the roads in the coming days.
Gardai in County Mayo have joined with the local County Council in a novel way to get drivers’ attention.
Volunteers will hand out pillows at Garda checkpoints with messages printed on them urging motorists to take a break if they are feeling tired at the wheel.
Noel Gibbons is Road Safety Officer with Mayo County Council says there is a serious side to the unusual idea.
“Driver fatigue attributes to 1-in-5 fatalities on Irish roads, so it is a major problem out there” he said.
“I want people to recognize the signs – so we’re distributing the pillows ourselves with the cooperation with the Garda Siochana who are operating a checkpoint who have allowed us to be there to distribute the pillows and the road safety leaflet”.
“This is all in the purpose to raise awareness around driver fatigue” he added.
