While there is an ever-increasing awareness among the grey nomad community of the importance of taking steps to stay safe on the road, the number of accidents involving caravan and motorhomes remains frighteningly high.
And driving tired remains a big factor.
Director of Beyond Midnight Consulting, Dr Nick Mabbott, has nearly 30 years of experience working in fatigue management, and assists WA Police Major Crash Division with serious accidents believed to have been caused by fatigue.
He says the number of motorists out there who are not fully alert is ‘absolutely terrifying’. Indeed, an NRMA survey carried out earlier this year found 23% of the 2,000 respondents had fallen asleep behind the wheel, with 64% of those saying this had occurred during the day.
A power nap can make a big difference when the driver is tired Pic: Sergi Montanaer / Pexels
Based on previous research, Dr Mabbott estimates around 33% of rural road crashes are the result of fatigue.
Grey nomads and others taking long trips on Outback roads are particularly susceptible to something called highway hypnosis, or ‘driving without awareness’.
“You may see the road ahead but you are below level, the lights are on but no one is there,” said Dr Mabbott. “This is actually Stage 1 sleep.”
Dr Mabbot says drivers must recognise signs of drowsiness and immediately act.
“The brain needs blood, oxygen and energy, and one hour’s sleep can give you two hours of brain energy,” he said. “Humans are capable of biphasic sleep so, if you are driving after not getting enough rest, your brain is saying you need more sleep.”
He says a good stop, a walk about, and a nap can really make a difference.
“If I was setting out on a big trip like crossing the Nullarbor, I would insist on getting at least three successive nights of seven hours of sleep so I can set out on my drive fresh,” he said. “And, if I was towing a caravan, that would be even more important.”
Dr Mabbott says any grey nomad who wakes up on a big driving day feeling like they haven’t had enough sleep, should get up and eat, and then try to get back to sleep before getting behind the wheel.
Of the 19 crashes Dr Mabbott has looked at for the police, 13 have been when the driver has had less than two and a half hours sleep; and three have been when the driver has been awake too long.
And 11 of those 19 accidents have happened when there has been someone asleep in the passenger seat. He says when grey nomads have someone in the passenger seat, they should always be awake so they can ‘give a prod’ if they need to.
So, given all of these scary factors, would Dr Mabbott still like to be a grey nomad one day?
“I would love to be hitting the road with a caravan,” he said. “But it’s also fair to say I drive in a state of chronic unease, with my eyes scanning everywhere.”
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Nothing like pulling up for lunch in a shady spot by a waterhole, creek or river.
Then stretch out on the bed for a nap under the fan. Invigorated and refreshed for another few hours drive before the night camp.
Whenever traveling with my van hitched I always work on a maximum drive of 4 to 4 1/2 hours with a rest break after 2 hours. This ensures I am always aware. My GPS has been set to let me know when I have traveled two and a half hours and alerts me that it is time for a break.
We rarely travel more than 200kms in a day.
We’re set up in a new camp well before lunchtime.
After lunch we have a nap.