TO BE SAFE, drivers on a long trip who start to feel drowsy should really pull over when they see a hotel sign beckoning to them from the highway. Now Super 8 by Wyndham is giving them extra incentive to do so.
The brand has brought back its #JourneySafe campaign that offers a 15 percent discount to its best available rate for guests who take the pledge not to drive when they are too tired. Drowsy driving is linked to more than 100,000 crashes with 1,550 fatalities and 40,000 injuries annually in the U.S., according to a National Safety Council study.
“As travelers’ companion on the road, Super 8 takes pride in always being there for road warriors who are ready to pull over and get some much needed sleep,” said Mike Mueller, Super 8 brand president. “Drowsy driving is completely preventable and it’s our hope that, through this campaign, we’ll help not only raise awareness, but encourage drivers to take action as soon as they notice the signs.”
The brand sponsors the campaign in conjunction with sleep expert Dr. Janet Kennedy. Along with the rate discount, it offers downloadable resources, including fact sheets, infographics and talk points, for anyone to share with loved ones to educate them on the dangers of drowsy driving.
March is National Sleep Awareness Month as well as Daylight Saving Time on March 8. The #JourneySafe campaign includes a PSA video in which a driver’s dashboard accessories, such as a hula girl and bobbing dog, come to life to warn the sleepy driver of the danger they are in. It also features a digital campaign via email, website and social media.
“Sleep is critically important not only for your personal health and wellness, but for the safety of those around you,” Kennedy said. “We have all likely been drowsy drivers at some point, and tried the classic caffeine, sugar and music to stay awake on the road, but those don’t work. Only sleep can truly overcome drowsiness.”
The rate discounts are available through April 27.
Previously, Super 8 held a sweepstakes to give away ROADM8, a customized 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4×4 with a design that incorporated elements of a multi-year, $140 million redesign it had recently undergone.