The death of a caravanner in a one-vehicle accident on the Hume Highway last week has once again put the issue of towing safety back on the agenda.
While the investigation into what caused the rollover just north of the Greta Road on-ramp near Wangaratta has not been concluded, it appears that the four-wheel-drive and caravan drifted across the road, landing in the median strip.
The Herald- Sun newspaper reported that the Toyota Hilux smashed into a tree, and that a man in his 60s died at the scene, while a female of similar was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
“It appears the driver has drifted off the road and the car has rolled onto its side,” said Sergeant Steve Beavis of Wangaratta police.
With thousands of grey nomads preparing for their annual migration north in search of winter warmth, previous warnings about the need for drivers to take care on unfamiliar roads, to take regular breaks, and to be as prepared as possible for the challenges of towing a caravan are one again resonating.
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My heart goes out to his family. The crazy thing is that, if memory serves, that stretch is pretty straight and has rumble strips. You wonder what more can be done. Technology already exists to monitor your heart and other vital signs for fatigue and possibly more serious conditions, sounding a loud alarm when certain parameters are crossed. Perhaps the next step is to bring these technologies to market – at a price nomads can afford – and make them compulsory for any journey greater than, say, 100km. Just a suggestion to get the debate going.
Possible! However what then do you do for all those that speed or are of a younger vintage that go to sleep behind the wheel. Fatigue is not a grey nomad problem alone. Neither are medical issues although I do agree more likely with the older generation
Oh dear john Christopher spoken like a true city ike bloody hell we have to drive 100 k just to do the grocery shopping or get parts for the farm it’s not the distance as we do these and much larger distances often, it’s being able to recognise that you are getting tired and being man / woman enough to admit that you need a break and pull over .
You can’t legislate against stupidity
An unfortunate reminder to us all that we need to take care on the roads. The number of unnecessary deaths on our roads should be of concern to us all. Whilst we can’t be responsible for the actions of others we need to ensure that we give our full attention to driving and not be distracted.
Perhaps we should see if a reason is actulally given. We dont know why this happened. As for us we take a break every 1.5 to 2 hours and only travel 4 hours in any day. There is no reason to hurry.
Again, here is a case for more free camp spots where we the travelling grey nomad can stop for a break or a long rest. Not knowing the actual reason for the accident, it is hard to blame any one thing.
But to me fatigue can play the devil when it comes to driving, especially driving without a mandatory break.
Yes the furthest that we have travelled in one day is 300 klms… Chinchilla Q. to Brisbane. But with a number of rest stops.
3 to 4 hours on the road is enough travel for one day for us. But that is us.!!!
John