As 2022 draws to close, the statistics will inevitably show once again that the number of accidents involving caravans is far higher than anyone would like it to be.
And, as usual, speed will have had a part to play in a significant percentage of these crashes.
In Western Australia, towing vehicles are limited to travelling at 100 km/h, even when the speed limit for other vehicles is 110m/h … but it seems that many motorists aren’t getting the message.
WA’s Road Safety Commissioner, Adrian Warner, says a recent study monitoring speed suggests many drivers are not even aware of this rule.
He told the ABC that the authorities had visited 57 separate sites, and more than five million vehicles had gone past its cameras.
The speed limit for towing vehicles in WA is 100km/h. PIC : Cizza
“We detected a total of 3,700 drivers that should have been going 100km/h or less but were going well over 100km/h,” he said.
Mr Warner told the ABC that the data collected at a site along Forrest Highway in WA’s Peel and South West regions showed the vast majority of heavy vehicle or towing drivers were travelling above the 100km/h limit.
“About 80% were speeding in that zero to 10km/h range … and the average speed all up was about 107 kilometres an hour,” he said. “Ignorance is not an excuse under the law … it might mean that we need to do a lot more targeted education for people who are going on caravanning trips, or going on long road distances.”
The chief executive of Western Roads Federation, Cam Dumesny, told the ABC that he would be interested to see the breakdown of vehicle types from the study, as most heavier haulage trucks have in-built speed-limiting technology.
“Trucks over 12 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) … they’re all speed limited,” Mr Dumesny said. “They’re capped at 100km/h … I think people, particularly those pulling trailers and caravans, aren’t aware that they are meant to be kept to 100km/h.
Long-time WA driver trainer Mike Sandilands, who regularly teaches caravanners and other holidaymakers who tow trailers, agreed that a lack of awareness of speed limit rules was the key issue.
He told the ABC that, in his training sessions, he tells motorists to make the driving part of the journey — one that is both enjoyable and safe.
“We always encourage [drivers] to err on the side of caution and stay well within that limit … you’re going to get better fuel economy,” Mr Sandilands said. “A little bit of extra speed, combined with that load not quite balanced, or a little bit too heavy, or that side wind that you weren’t expecting … [can combine] to make the outcome catastrophic.”
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Yes I was stopped for 110kph with a Kimberly Camper trailer, and had an argument with the HP cop about trailer speed limits, he said all states are 100kph since 1987. Rubbish NSW has zero special rules for trailers. When I pointed out that interstate drivers had no way of knowing about WA rules and why wasn’t there a sign on the borders? His reply “There used be signs at the border but we took them down….” How dumb is that? Must be thousands of interstate vehicles entering WA every day. Surely it is a no brainer to put up a couple of signs??????? One other dumb Wa rule “Pedestrians have no right of way, try and cross the road on foot in Broome and they will run you down……. No brainer, Pedestrians should always have right of way… person vs car?
NSW does have towing speed limits. NSW is limited ti 100kph if towing a trailer when the GVM of tge tow vehicle and/or the GCM of the combination is over 4.5t. Tgat weight includes almost every caravan rig on the roads. It is up to the driver to know the road rules. YES, there should be consistant rules in all states and better signage. My Truck Friendly caravan education program web site and Facebook page posts factual information on road rules. Stay safe. Cheers Ken
If you are traveling interstate, towing or not, it is your responsibility to read up the road rules of the state you are entering before you go. Ignorance is not an excuse.
As we are one country surely, we should have the same rules for the whole country. Take NATIONAL PARKS for instance; each State has different costs and rules for NATIONAL PARKS – Go figure!
We travelled throughout WA with our caravan throughout July August and September of 2022 and there were signs as you enter from the NT stating the speed limit for heavy vehicles and caravans. I also saw it posted in other parts of WA. It is the driver’s responsibility to make themselves aware of the speed limit for caravans in each state. Ignorance is no defense, and besides, if you had any brains you wouldn’t be exceeding 100kph towing a van anyway.
Google it ,takes 10seconds, ignorance
They is a sign at the border village
Also in NSW. BUT, and I’m being serious here. Why is there no questioning of the heavy transport industry where speed limited vehicles are commonly exceeding their 100kmh limit.
Why try and shift blame to Trucks.I tow caravans. I feel caravanners should have speed limiters like trucks to stop them speeding up when trucks try to pass them.
Joe Scharf, not true. Heavy vehicles face heavy fines if their speed limiters, set to 100kmh have been tampered with, to allow faster speeds.
Maybe u should check your Speedo a truck may go to 102 or 103 before it cuts out
Who would want to drive at 110km/hr towing a van. 100km/hr is more than enough. You can enjoy the view and be comfortable that your van is not going turtle on you.
Also with the cost of fuel, a reduction on speed saves money.
There are signs where you cross the border into WA that tell you the speed limits pertaining to towed vehicles. Obviously people choose to ignore them. People who live within the State of WA should already be aware of their speed limits.
I’m certainly aware that tha towing vehicles are limited to 100 in WA. There are signs on the roadside! I don’t think they are very easy to decipher, but I thought long and hard and worked it out. I’m driving a Sprinter van, so it doesn’t apply to me. I reckon you have to blame poor signage.
How clear do the signs need to be. They state “W. A. MAX SPEED – All towing vehicles – 100kph”. No deciphering required, you were speeding.
How could you not be aware? The signs are large and in plain view along the highways, particularly as you drive across the borders. Drivers pushing limits.
Yes, even if towing a little trailer. In NSW the limit depends on your GCM. If over 4.5 tonne, then the limit here is also 100km/h
Of course we are aware of WA’s speed limit. It is the responsibility of each driver to know the road laws of the state in which they are driving.
Perhaps advise the speed limits in each state as large trucks and caravans seem to have a higher speed limit than cars sticking with the 100k or 110k limit ..!
As for trucks being speed limited? Really?
Two years ago on our trip to the west I did indeed saw a large sign at the WA border advising all travellers that towed trailers – of all types, presumed to also include box trailers! – were limited to maximum of 100km/h.
There was also a similar sign on one of the roads out of Albany stating the same thing.
As my normal towing speed is only 90km/h – only nudging 100km/h down a hill – I never had a problem with the local police.
By the way, although nothing to do with the speed limit in WA but just to show that even on the Eyre Highway you can get caught, I was stopped about 100 metres from the SA border on the way back and breathalised! Just as well I didn’t have a last WA beer at Eucla.
With a lot of vehicles these days having built in GPS navigation displays which receive traffic reports, how hard would it be to set up a system to regularly transmit speed limit warnings to vehicles?
I have a navman dash cam that displays your speed limit. When I am doing 100 kph on my spedo the dash cam says 94kph . Is that fair to the truckie following behind me.
Travelling South to Brisbane on the 110 Klm posted speed on the Freeway. It is common to see Caravan combinations travelling at the limit or above. In fact I have witnessed many times , if one is travelling at 108 another will pull out to overtake , if there is a slight rise in the road , they are travelling two abreast for a few kilometres before the overtaking one can complete the manoeuvre. Neither has any consideration for others on the road. It is as if they are competing as to who has the most grunt.
It is the driver Responsibility to know the rules, in SA 25 kph when passing stopped emergency vehicles with flashing light in Vic all railway crossings on bitumen roads are 80 in nsw is 80 unless there are curve before crossing with advisory 45kph signs then the speed limit is 60 there are plenty of ways to lose your licence and police are enforcement officers not educational officers no point in arguing with them
Look there’s this thing that goes to people head getting a truck licence or wat have we have a government that’s absolutely gutless in making very strict laws there needs to be a bloody caravan special licence n course on how to know what ur loading and the weight of contents ur putting in that adds to the weight of anything on wheels….even on the Ipswich motorway just 100kph ive seen caravans get a little speed wobble n driver finally grows a brain n slows a bit to bring it under control..speed…road conditions All play a factor n driver stupidity n arrogance..n those involved in an incident should have a disqualification for towing a caravan till they have done a safety course
I have the best speed limiter when towing my van in any state; my wife , she doesn’t let me go over 100 k/h, who would anyway when towing 2.7tonnes, especially if l’ve got my grand kids in the car, who come away with us on a lot of trips.
Everyone is saying the same thing over & over ignorance, not seeing signs , shifting blame, dash cams how about we do what they do in Singapore have a small orange flashing light on the roof of the vehicle that flashes when speeding but then we don’t see large signs so would we see a light? Maybe a silly comment but we do have silly people still speeding even after all the warnings