A nasty caravan rollover on the Pacific Highway in northern New South Wales has prompted police to warn grey nomads and other motorists to take extra care on the roads during wet weather.
A 4WD and caravan rolled about one kilometre south of the Clothiers Creek Road exit near Cabarita yesterday morning, forcing the closure of southbound lanes for just over an hour.
Tweed Byron Police District Inspector Matt Keough said the caravan had flipped on to its side and one woman had been treated for minor injuries.
“It was a single vehicle accident,” he said.
Heavy rain was falling at the time of the crash.
Police are reminding drivers to slow down in the wet and drive to the road conditions, particularly when it has been raining.
We are seeing way to many caravans speeding, we are caravanners and we are being over taken and sometimes on double white lines and often when an over taking lane is only just up the road, impatience and bloody crazy, makes us angry that all caravanners are tared with same brush, because we are not all speeders and silly, nothing is that important to risk not only theirs but others lives.
Coming home from Southern NSW without our caravan today (27-8-18) as we were at our Daughters we were passed on the Hume Freeway by a caravan towed by a Nissan Patrol just passed Glenrowan (Vic). Our speed in the 110Kph zone was 102Kph and we were left for dead by this van with the wind starting to increase I only hoped the driver slowed down, no wonder they have accidents.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had this happen the previous time I had to chase the driver along the Hume as his pop top had come loose, later we were at a rest stop he flew pass doing the posted speed limit. Didn’t learn his lucky (lesson) escape with his young family in tow. Because the speed limit is posted at 100Kph- 110Kph in Vic on the major roads doesn’t mean you have to do that speed, for goodness sake slow down and enjoy the scenery for a change to a least live for another day.
Totally agree with Sheila
Whats the hurry ????
True fact and what is the rush
So true. Its easier to slow down and take it easy than to end up injured and your most loved property damaged or destroyed. We have worked to hard paying off our wonderful investment to risk losing it just to get there sooner. Take care all caravanners out there
Im with shelia. We have been caravaning since 1985 and the risk takers are on the increase
Have been caravaning for several years now, my wife and i have noticed that many caravans are now passing us and it has only been the last few years. SLOW DOWN
Yes it’s time I am afraid the governing bodies must reduce speed limits on caravan towing combination, more & more accidents are occurring.
Authorities must slow down car & caravan combination to perhaps 15 – 20km below the posted speed limits.
AS in WA the speed limit for caravans should be the same as trucks
As more and more people get caravans, exactly the same as more people get more cars then there are going to be a greater amount of idiot drivers on our roads
The purpose for roads has been lost ie getting goods and people from A to B not necessarily at the speed of light
Grow up those drivers who drive without considation to all road users
The thing that most people miss is that we are actually an articulated vehicle, so it should be an endorsement on your license as well as road rules regulated federally rather than the hodge podge of the states.
Yes There is an increasing no of crazy drivers without experience ; who are getting in2 vehicles everyday with little regard 4 safety.Its all about Beating the Nxt Car an Si on & So on As it goes.Unfortunately , we have no choice at present .but to keep away from these losers until , we can get mandatory loss of licence for at least 2yrs for wreakless driving with intent. STAY ALIVE .
A lazy sunday afternoon motoribg along the Hume in NSW doing the 110. Brand new looking hilux dual cab ute seats full with young family and about 23 footer sailing behind. It was like watching a pumped up commuter cutting through the morning traffic. They were chopping and changing lanes to get some mystical advantage over the traffic. The ute was being flogged to achieve the speeds and then we would get mixed up with this idiot because of a slight incline which would take the edge off the top speed and try would be in the way again until a change in terrain and off they’d go again flying pass other vehicles. Just add a degree of difficulty to this proficiency challenge test they had set themselves the wind mirrors were standard factory issue so there was no line of sight along the side of the caravan the rear. Total blind spot on bith sides. Man what an absolute idiot. We couldn’t take it anymore being sucked into their vortex of stupidity. It was too bloody dangerous being around that constant aggressive blind stupidity. So we pulled up and let that moron and the bunch of vehicles that were caught up in the craziness continue with their forwards backwards land. In a few moments the brave sir knight with the silver hilux and house on wheels disappeared into the horizon. Phew…
We then got back on the Hume and continued on our way. Driving can be dangerous enough without special looks like that one in the mix.
The majority of vehicles have dash cams that record what happens.
How many of you ring the police?
You all complain but do nothing about the idiots, start phoning the police & they will investigate
Too many drivers travelling too fast with caravans especially the dual cab 4 cylinder buz boxes.
We have been caravaners for over 20 years, have seen it all ,a simple thing like having a checklist sheet on hand before you head off. Maybe it’s time for anyone towing a van to have tow course endorsed on there license.
Great idea. Sooner the better.
You believe making people do a course to tow a van will stop or reduce the stupidity, or insert commonsense, or respect for other road users.I don’t think it is the answer.I’m a caravanner of more than 20 years and yes I make mistakes. RMS coupled with police should start hammering vans and motorhomes
Isnt 100 kph max when towing also should only tow 75 percent of max rating of vehicle also load in vehicle and on top needs to be taken into account as well to many vehicles over loaded
Too many caravanners on the road that lack ability to tow. As more & more join the ranks, caravan accidents will increase.
Should have a minimun meadium tigid licence so many dont have the experance to b towing. That is only my opinion
As a long term caravaner travelling all over Aus some drivers do so many dangerous and careless moves. As a truckies wife as well going slow is just as dangerous. If you cant tow a van at a proper speed DONT TOW ONE.
Great..most complain about going too fast and you state drive at the posted speed or don’t tow at all ..
Tow at a speed that you are comfortable with and to suit the conditions under the posted limit…95 to 100 is a fair speed ..
Please show me the regulation, from any state or territory, that I have to travel at the posted speed. The regulation says you must not exceed, not travel at…agree, anyone who travels at 30 to 40 ks under the posted speed in perfect conditions, should stop towing…always allow a working truckie to safely pass
Agree, maybe it should be mandatory to have and use a UHF radio properly to communicate with other roadusers especially the professional truck drivers who need to earn a living. I’m a caravanner and it isn’t hard to be polite and ask other drivers what they need you to do so they can get by you safely
Well said. I have been a caravaner for 15 years now and a truck driver several years before then.so when it comes to some people that sit on 70 to 80 kilometres per hour and sit in the middle of the road with total disregard for other motorists are far more dangerous than some speeders.
It’s about time the government in each state to lower the speed limit when towing caravans
This morning I followed a caravan down the Bruce highway doing 110klm the weather was fine and the highway was good and the speed limit was 110klh but why do that speed when it’s a 2 Lane highway towing a catavaun
Bythe way I am also a caravanner and would never tow at that speed too dangerous best to get to your destination safely that end up 9 in the mortuary.
Wrong Bert lowering speed limits for certain vehicles causes more problems. My idea is for every one to tow a caravan or heavy trailer snould have a Gov. approved course on towing & if passed noted as an addition to their license. All caravans should be mated to a suitable sized vehicle
Can people stop insisting that you need to do a towing course, a towing course does not prevent moronic behaviour, it just adds to the government coffers. Plenty of these idiots already have passed a general licence test and shouldn’t be on the road anyway, so another test does not improve this kind of behaviour. Catch them and get them off the road for a long period of time for the benefit of all the decent drivers that do the right thing.
Slow down…..especially in the wet and on windy days. 95kph is plenty. What is the rush? Correct tyre pressures, with 4 to 5psi higher in the rear, correct weight distribution, all within towing specs, and add ESC and/or Dual Cam Sway units. Have a vehicle with a long wheelbase and short hitch overhang. Ensure this vehicle is heavier than your caravan! Then drive to the conditions and you have done all you can and should be safe.
Some caravan owners are flying like the wind /when you look @caravans doing 100 ks plus average back their speed@its closer to 75 ks slowing down for road works schools @towns.they then increase their speed to make up for lost time. Drivers on their highway to hell /very disappointing? ??
We have been driving the North West of Aust and have noticed a lot of caravanners are driving at 85ks, saving fuel, trucks banking up behind them and forcing dangerously overtaking maneuvers by trucks and also caravanners. The speed limit is 100. We do drive to the road conditions.
Agree entirely Tracy, we also drive to the conditions, but always do the signed speed limit when it is safe to do so. Those who don’t by choice whether towing or not, are a source of frustration and sometimes even a danger to other road users.
I drive a motor home that could easilly do more than 110 KPH. I am most comfortable doing about 95 KPH if conditions are good. I have found that the truckies are content to wait until it is safe to overtake. But, I have found that numerous caravaners see any slower vehicle as a challenge and an opportunity to demononstrate their “self assessed driving skill” and their horse power.