Avoiding the ‘big problem’: Experts consider tougher driver’s licence rules for caravans
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Australia has seen a boom in caravan ownership, making them an increasingly common sight on the country's highways.
In response to a growing trend of road accidents involving caravans on roads, the powers that be are mulling over the idea of introducing tougher licensing rules.
This, they believe, could potentially make our roads safer. And the proposition is being hailed by road safety experts across the country.
According to the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, the trend began following the COVID-19 pandemic and seemed to continue unabated amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
For some, caravans offer a temporary but cost-effective solution to housing. For others, particularly seniors embracing the 'grey nomad' lifestyle, it's a unique opportunity to explore the country on their own terms.
However, with the rise in caravan ownership comes an alarming trend–an increase in road accidents involving vehicles towing these mobile homes.
In Queensland alone, from 2017 to 2021, accidents relating to cars towing trailers or vans have resulted in almost 1,000 hospitalisations and 50 fatalities, according to Queensland government statistics.
Joel Tucker, Road Safety Manager at Queensland's Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), ‘strongly supports caravan owners doing more training’ before hitting the road.
Tony Maddison, director of WiTi, a towing technology company, echoes these sentiments.
Maddison warned against the dangers of 'overweight and unstable caravans', citing them as a significant problem in Australia.
‘In most cases, drivers only need their car licence, and they can hitch up three tonnes or more of caravan and take it out on the roads with no training whatsoever… which is just crazy,’ he said.
Demanding more required training isn't an outlandish request, it's a prudent one, as Road Safety Expert from the University of New South Wales Raphael Grzebieta underlined.
He said that ‘driving a caravan is like driving an articulated vehicle (semi-trailer vehicles)’, so his assessment is that extra training and licencing should be mandatory.
‘Folks towing a caravan need additional training if the caravan is above a certain load. It’s not like towing a small trailer,’ he stated.
Natalie Watson-Brown, whose research revolved around road safety and education at Queensland’s University of Technology, agreed that more data needs to be collated to substantiate the theory that caravans disproportionately contribute to road accidents.
However, she is all for additional training, particularly owing to the diverse and complex environments caravan drivers operate in—ranging from unsealed, narrow and high-speed roads to congested, slower-speed ones.
‘So if some of these factors are contributing to their crashes, then that needs to be important in their training and… testing before they get their licence,’ she said.
Watson-Brown suggested that streamlining the licensing processes across Australia would possibly ‘make things easier’ for those travelling interstate, as licensing as a state-by-state decision has proven ‘challenging’.
However, she said that 'the skills that make you a safer driver are not necessarily your vehicle control skills'.
‘I guess that's where everyone's going with the people that tow caravans, that potentially they need to upskill in their ability to tow the caravan.’
‘Maybe it's an attitude change, so maybe it's having an awareness and understanding of things like they do on a long drive, so maybe they need to understand more about fatigue and how that affects the way that they're driving, or maybe they need to self regulate,’ she added.
What’s with the allure of adopting a ‘grey nomad’ lifestyle?
Take the case of this couple who sold their property and ventured full-time around the country.
There was some hesitance on their end at first, but they later relished living in a caravan and enjoying the nomadic lifestyle. You can read more about their story here.
Do you feel a special licence is necessary for drivers towing caravans, or is extra training enough? Let us know in the comments below!
In response to a growing trend of road accidents involving caravans on roads, the powers that be are mulling over the idea of introducing tougher licensing rules.
This, they believe, could potentially make our roads safer. And the proposition is being hailed by road safety experts across the country.
According to the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, the trend began following the COVID-19 pandemic and seemed to continue unabated amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
For some, caravans offer a temporary but cost-effective solution to housing. For others, particularly seniors embracing the 'grey nomad' lifestyle, it's a unique opportunity to explore the country on their own terms.
Experts are now considering tougher licensing rules for caravans. Credit: Unsplash
However, with the rise in caravan ownership comes an alarming trend–an increase in road accidents involving vehicles towing these mobile homes.
In Queensland alone, from 2017 to 2021, accidents relating to cars towing trailers or vans have resulted in almost 1,000 hospitalisations and 50 fatalities, according to Queensland government statistics.
Joel Tucker, Road Safety Manager at Queensland's Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), ‘strongly supports caravan owners doing more training’ before hitting the road.
Tony Maddison, director of WiTi, a towing technology company, echoes these sentiments.
Maddison warned against the dangers of 'overweight and unstable caravans', citing them as a significant problem in Australia.
‘In most cases, drivers only need their car licence, and they can hitch up three tonnes or more of caravan and take it out on the roads with no training whatsoever… which is just crazy,’ he said.
Demanding more required training isn't an outlandish request, it's a prudent one, as Road Safety Expert from the University of New South Wales Raphael Grzebieta underlined.
He said that ‘driving a caravan is like driving an articulated vehicle (semi-trailer vehicles)’, so his assessment is that extra training and licencing should be mandatory.
‘Folks towing a caravan need additional training if the caravan is above a certain load. It’s not like towing a small trailer,’ he stated.
Natalie Watson-Brown, whose research revolved around road safety and education at Queensland’s University of Technology, agreed that more data needs to be collated to substantiate the theory that caravans disproportionately contribute to road accidents.
However, she is all for additional training, particularly owing to the diverse and complex environments caravan drivers operate in—ranging from unsealed, narrow and high-speed roads to congested, slower-speed ones.
‘So if some of these factors are contributing to their crashes, then that needs to be important in their training and… testing before they get their licence,’ she said.
Watson-Brown suggested that streamlining the licensing processes across Australia would possibly ‘make things easier’ for those travelling interstate, as licensing as a state-by-state decision has proven ‘challenging’.
However, she said that 'the skills that make you a safer driver are not necessarily your vehicle control skills'.
‘I guess that's where everyone's going with the people that tow caravans, that potentially they need to upskill in their ability to tow the caravan.’
‘Maybe it's an attitude change, so maybe it's having an awareness and understanding of things like they do on a long drive, so maybe they need to understand more about fatigue and how that affects the way that they're driving, or maybe they need to self regulate,’ she added.
What’s with the allure of adopting a ‘grey nomad’ lifestyle?
Take the case of this couple who sold their property and ventured full-time around the country.
There was some hesitance on their end at first, but they later relished living in a caravan and enjoying the nomadic lifestyle. You can read more about their story here.
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