The summer holiday is the time during which the majority of accidents caused by driving while tired occur. For this reason, traffic police in Guangdong Province have launched a campaign to spread awareness of the issue.  It will run from July 8 to August 31.

A traffic cop handing out goodies, courtesy of Yangcheng Evening News

Traffic police are standing at locations such as the Shabei toll booth on the Guangzhou-Foshan Expressway, the Wayao Bridge Service Area on the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, the Shapu Service Centre on the Guangzhou-Huizhou Expressway, and the Nansha toll booth on the Humen Bridge on the Dongguan-Foshan Expressway to spread the word, Yangcheng Evening News reports.

Unlike drink driving, it is difficult to crackdown on this particular traffic violation because there is no easy way to prove somebody is been guilty of it. On this particular drive, the police activity has been limited to handing out leaflets, cards and symbolic gifts such as water and green tea to discourage people.

As of Jan. 1 this year, the province will punish those who drive for four hours without resting for at least 20 minutes, with a six-point penalty and 200 yuan fine. The punishment is increased to 12 points and a 200 yuan fine for those who do so while driving a bus, coach or lorry.

However, since this drive was launched four days ago, nobody has been caught in the act.