'Crucial priority' for drivers towing caravans highlighted in terrifying dashcam footage
The footage is being held up as a warning to drivers as to how quickly things can go wrong when towing a caravan or trailer.
Terrifying footage of a truck almost colliding with a 4WD after it lost control and swayed into the middle of the road has been held up as a crucial reminder of the dangers of towing a caravan or trailer, including ensuring it is correctly loaded.
The footage was captured from the truck's dashcam and the truck driver explained he had been "heavy on the brakes" for some time after he spotted the vehicle in front of him starting to sway.
However, in a heart-stopping moment, the 4WD starts to violently wobble from side to side. The driver is unable to control the vehicle and it whips around, forcing the camping trailer into the oncoming lane while the 4WD spins towards the truck — with the 4WD driver now face to face with the truck driver travelling in a 57-tonne vehicle.
"I was planning to go through the van before the car," the truck driver admitted online after the incident, saying his heart was in his mouth. He was able to veer into a hard shoulder and managed to prevent a collision.
Incorrect loading can pose deadly risk to caravanners
While it's not clear exactly what went wrong in the footage circulating online, the number of caravans and campers on Aussies roads is increasing and many experts are concerned that drivers new to towing vehicles are not equipped with the knowledge or know-how to travel safely.
Incorrect loading can mean the weight distribution between the vehicles is off and this poses a heightened chance of the driver being unable to control the car, resulting in terrifying moments like the one captured on the dashcam.
"It is crucial caravan owners prioritise learning how to safely maintain, load and tow their vans," RAC claims manager Glen Walker told Yahoo News last month. "It’s also critical to keep the caravan balanced, with the correct weight on the tow-hitch, by distributing weight evenly when packing," he said, adding that caravaners must not exceed speeds of 100km/h.
Ensuring tyres are at the correct pressure for the load is also crucial for safety.
Online, the truck driver who shared the video copped criticism with many suggesting he could have slowed down earlier, but the driver assured them he had been on the brakes for some time and did all he could to make sure he avoided the out of control 4WD.
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Push for mandatory towing training courses
Industry professionals have pushed for licence requirements or at least mandatory training courses so new drivers are educated on how to safely tow caravans.
Training courses can cost drivers hundreds of dollars but Kevin Williams, who has worked in nationally accredited driver training for more than two decades, believes drivers will "set themselves up for safety" by enrolling in a course.
"For the sake of $400 to $600, you can go do a towing course, and everyone walks away learning something... it may save one life or it may save many lives," he told Yahoo News previously.
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