Avoiding the ‘big problem’: Experts consider tougher driver’s licence rules for caravans

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.


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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.
Key Takeaways
  • There is a call for tougher licensing rules for Australian drivers towing caravans due to a rise in road accidents.
  • Experts suggested that additional training or a special licence should be mandatory for caravan towing.
  • The Caravan Industry Association of Australia noted a surge in caravan ownership post-coronavirus pandemic.
  • Licensing for towing is currently a state decision, with talks of streamlining the process nationally.
Do you feel a special licence is necessary for drivers towing caravans, or is extra training enough? Let us know in the comments below!
 
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I think people should be more aware of the towed vehicle. Speed is another issue as we constantly see big caravans with big trucks doing Unbelievable speeds especially on motor way.maybe thr speed should be restricted to that of semi trailers
 
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I think people should be more aware of the towed vehicle. Speed is another issue as we constantly see big caravans with big trucks doing Unbelievable speeds especially on motor way.maybe thr speed should be restricted to that of semi trailers
Even that speed restriction for a semi-trailer (at top speed of 100kph) will be too fast for a driver towing a caravan WITHOUT training and that is when accidents happen because of uncontrollable sway. I'm sure everyone has seen a caravan being towed on a highway doing a 'good speed' just because the highway has very little or no traffic at that time.
 
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Maybe a Federal License is needed so every state is on the same page with Caravans of ANY weight and length. Like so much else in this country.
 
My husband and I had a full 8 hour day of 1 on 1 training from a qualified trainer who was a road train driver. He set up our car and caravan by adjusting the tow bar height. He weighed our whole setup at the towbar checking for equal weight distribution. We received a detailed power point presentation on the theory of heavy vehicles and then took us out on the road with the van and sat in the passenger seat while he taught us both how to drive, corner, manoeuvre, reverse, brake and what to look and feel for before you get into trouble and what to do to get out of it. I highly recommend this type of training for everyone who is just starting out on their caravanning journey.
Great idea. Luckly my Husband was a ex Truck driver, and taught me .
 
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Even that speed restriction for a semi-trailer (at top speed of 100kph) will be too fast for a driver towing a caravan WITHOUT training and that is when accidents happen because of uncontrollable sway. I'm sure everyone has seen a caravan being towed on a highway doing a 'good speed' just because the highway has very little or no traffic at that time.
Agreed but there still needs to be an awareness of weight distribution to minimise sway. My van has a gross of 2500kg . Even when we do long trips (3 mths plus) we are consistently at about 22-2300kg. I have capacity for 230lt of water but rarely carry more than about 90lt even when free camp. I drive at about 90-95 kmph on the gps. I'm 72 and have been towing cans since I was married in 1974. I think people need to recognise their limitations and slow down a bit and think about what they are doing.extra testing won't stop people from doing the wrong thing.We have speed limits and a driving test to get a license but that doest stop people speeding. Maybe more education is needed ,I don't know
 
Someone mentioned new drivers. Many years ago while teaching our eldest to drive, we were towing a small trailer to go camping. We were stopped by a lovely police officer and advised a learner was not allowed to drive a vehicle whilst towing. Well how are they going learn then? We had no idea. Never saw any info about it anywhere in the learning material.
How the hell does a truck'eee up date there license then.
I recon the copper didn't no his rules. Lol
 
I never had that problem. Even when my first husband put his back out falling off a horse & I had to drive the car home. He was forever criticizing my driving. even though he was incapable of doing the driving. Just because I got my lenience without his input. Should have realized then he was a control freak. who eventually turned violent. But I Didnt & went through years of hell with him.
 

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