Huge caravan mistake Aussies are making renews calls for driver's licence change
The caravan business owner said it's 'insane' the number of drivers still doing the wrong thing and is calling for a major change.
With more and more Aussies opting for caravan travel across the country, it's become apparent there's a common mistake many are making. Dave Jason from Get-A-Weigh told Yahoo News Australia over 80 per cent of vehicles his team checks before a trip are over the weight limit, and don't meet roadworthy requirements.
The caravan business, a vehicle weighing service based in NSW and Queensland, sees dozens of vehicles a week. People use the services ahead of planned trips to ensure their equipment is roadworthy and often they aren't Dave said – and it could have deadly consequences on the road.
Dave said the number of people who "don't care" about being over the limit is "really alarming", saying he can often tell just by looking at caravan towers on the road that they are not properly compliant with weight recommendations.
"Some people are conscientious enough to want to be safe and legal, and some just aren't. They just don't care and don't want to know," he told Yahoo.
Australian rules for towing a caravan on the road
Across Australia, it's a requirement to follow safety standards associated with your vehicle while travelling on roads towing a van or trailer. Drivers must secure their load and also adhere to licence restrictions, mostly relating to learner and provisional licence holders.
Other rules include keeping 60 metres behind other caravans on roads outside built-up areas and ensuring speed doesn’t ever exceed 100km per hour – but a lower speed is recommended in certain conditions. Most importantly, drivers must adhere to their vehicle manufacturers' safety guidelines.
Vehicle manufacturers indicate in the owner’s manual the maximum weight and other features of trailers appropriate for the vehicle. These limits should not be exceeded. But according to Dave, they often are — and the blatant disregard for the rules could have serious consequences.
Severe consequences for overweight caravans and vehicles
The majority of all vehicle and caravan combinations his team sees, including work utes, 4WDs and horse floats, are in violation of "one or more" of the vehicle manufacturer's weight specifications.
"And we're not talking little amounts. We're talking about some of these vehicles being over by tonnes," Dave said.
"If you are pulled over and your weights are not within the specifications, you can be fined and lose licence points for every infringement, and your vehicle will be deemed unroadworthy and therefore uninsured," he added.
"It's scary to think that the oncoming vehicle travelling at 100km/h could potentially be one of the 80 per cent we see.
"Road safety is no laughing matter," he added, urging more Aussies to do the right thing.
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Why driving with a heavy load is 'dangerous and scary'
The extra weight is often made up of added bikes, boats and other items strapped to the roof, or it could be what's inside the van. But the "most common one that's overweight is the rear axle of the vehicle that's doing the towing. Some people are ridiculously overloaded," Dave explained.
Towing a heavy load can overload the vehicle's brake system, causing them to fail. When travelling at speed, the heavy load can also swing and cause the vehicle to tip over, leaving the driver and other road users at risk. Being overweight can also cause parts, including tyres, to fly off putting road users at risk.
Dave said he sees it all the time while travelling on the road himself and said more needs to be done to ensure drivers towing caravans follow the rules.
"It's just really bloody scary, and very dangerous to be honest. How many vehicles are getting around out there on the road that are susceptible to sway? Once they start swaying, it's very, very difficult to control. You're going to lose it. It's horrific when you see it," he said.
Calls for driver's licence change amid rising caravan popularity
With caravan continuing to be popular post Covid, authorities have sounded the alarm about the rising number of caravan-related incidents, with a spate of bad accidents in recent months. Dave admits he too has noticed more incidents on the road in Queensland where he lives.
As international borders closed during the Covid pandemic and many people turned to domestic travel, the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) in 2021 revealed a 50 per cent jump in caravan collisions.
"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 week.
"It’s also critical to keep the caravan balanced, with the correct weight on the tow-hitch, by distributing weight evenly when packing," he added.
In recent times, road safety advocates have been calling for states and territories to introduce mandated training or a new licence class for motorists who tow a certain size of trailer or caravan. Like them, Dave thinks it's "absolutely necessary".
"Any Joe Blow can go out with a heap of money in their pocket and buy a vehicle, not understand anything about it and hit the road," he said. "It's up to you as the purchaser to know."
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