Caravanners are once again being urged to show consideration and commonsense when sharing the roads with heavy vehicles.
The call follows a recent survey by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) of 1,000 Australian drivers which showed that 60% of caravanners have parked in a truck-specific rest area, and 22% are doing so often.
NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto, said it was important for caravanners to understand that trucks need specific rest areas to manage their fatigue work and rest requirements.
“While 66% of Australians surveyed are currently aware that they shouldn’t use these truck rest spaces, they don’t understand the implications or the why – and the consequences can be devastating,” he said.
Back in November last year, NSW police released this pic of caravans and trucks in a rest area in a Facebook post.
“Fatigue is one of the leading factors that affect safety and heavy vehicle crashes, and when fatigue management requirements aren’t adhered to, there can be serious consequences for all road users.”
The survey also highlighted caravanners uncertainty about communicating with truck drivers on the road, with only half of caravanners aware that they can and should use their UHF radio to do so.
“Using a UHF radio, if available, is vital for communicating with heavy vehicle drivers, to let them know you are going to overtake them, or so they can let you know when they’re going to overtake you,” he said.
NHVR Executive Director of Corporate Affairs Michelle Tayler says the campaign is utilising a popular celebrity to reach caravanners and get the message across in a unique way.
“We joined forces with popular comedian Jimmy Rees earlier in the year to share this message with caravanners – because as a dad who likes caravanning during the school holidays, he has seen all sorts of drivers out there, especially when towing something heavy,” Ms Tayler said. “The videos are a comical mix of educational content and real-life issues that impact Australian caravanners and will be broadcast across social media throughout January … the videos provide an important safety message in a way that resonates with the average caravanners.”
We All Need Space provides simple tips for drivers on how to drive safely around oversized loads, overtaking trucks, how to keep out of trucks’ blind spots, and rules around overtaking a turning truck.
Ahead of the holiday period, the NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command also issued an appeal to those towing to respect heavy vehicle rest areas.
“We encourage all drivers to manage their fatigue when travelling, but also be aware that heavy vehicle drivers have rules relating to taking compulsory rest breaks and they also have authorised routes to adhere to, which restricts them from just driving anywhere to stop for a break,” police said in a Facebook post. “Yes, if you are towing a trailer and you need to rest and revive to survive, absolutely find a lawful, safe and suitable rest area to stop at … it is legal for you to stop and rest in these signposted spaces.”
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Great read!
Perhaps “Bus and Coach” parking areas should be given more thought as well.
All to often a vehicle and caravan containing, say, 2 or 4 people parked on a signposted Bus or Coach spot so the family don’t need to walk far means the Bus or Coach containing 40 plus people has to park sometimes 100s of metres away who often are elderly need to walk hundreds of metres.
Unless I misinterpreted the photo, it looks like a general parking area at a roadhouse/servo rather than a truck rest stop. Note what looks like a hatch back parked at the far left of the photo.
That said I also agree that caravans shouldn’t use dedicated truck rest areas as they are required by law to have rest after set periods of driving.
One of the problems is that often the rest stops are signposted simply as a ‘rest area’ meaning that they are open to all comers.
Maybe the signs should read something like “truck rest area only – other vehicles subject to $XX fine.”
The loss of $$ should deter caravaners who could continue driving to a more suitable place to stop.
Murray I’m at a truck driver of 50 or so years and to my knowledge a rest area signposted with a tree and a table is for cars and caravans not trucks , a sign with a P on it is normally for anyone and one that’s says truck parking is only for trucks . All these signs are Blue in colour . I don’t have an issue with sharing parking areas with grey nomads and have had some great conversations with these people and offered my advice on places to visit but please don’t come into a parking area and complain about our fridge van motors or our sleeper cab air conditioner motors runnig
DO NOT PARK IN TRUCK BAYS !
If you MUST, go to the of the end parking bay, so that someone else can tuck behind you.
DO NOT SPEND THE WHOLE DAY IN THERE, REMEMBER SOMEONE ELSE’S PARKING OUT THERE!
I agree 100% with this article whilst taking a rest break on the way down from QLD to NSW not to far over the border, there were no less than 3 caravans and a number of cars parked up in truck spots all they had to do was drive a little further down the road as I did and park leaving the truck spaces free and walk back to the service centre. I went as far as to have a chat with one of the truck drivers as he was returning to his rig and told him that not all caravan owners are inconsiderate his response was yep I know we also have a few cowboys in our industry as well but we must look out for one another.
I don’t mid showing consideration for truck drivers, and call them up on the 2way to let them know that I know they’re there! About 1 time in 4 I get no acknowledgement (most often when closer to towns) despite the truckie trying to remove my caravan spare wheel! I also don’t park in truck-stop bays, but when no signage is posted I reckon it’s open slather.
Yes, parking bays designed for trucks and long vehicles are not “Always” exclusively for trucks.
In the last 10 years caravans have tripled on the roads but the infrastructure for stopping and rest areas has not changed or improved knowing that most of the people who are in the caravans are elderly and require frequent stops, what do they expect there are sections of roads that have almost no stopping areas for miles and that’s why people pull into the first place where they can get off the road and sometimes it’s going to be a truck stop
the truck driver is obliged, by law, to have mandated rest times. licence, income, business all at risk if we are taking up spaces they rely upon. maybe the driver being maligned is just trying to get to his/her required stop in legal time. Holiday travellers can & must give them room.
Sorry, I’m a caravaner but have mates who are truckies, there is NO EXCUSE to park in a truck only rest area
Truckies have to, by law, stop at regular intervals for rest, if you are parked in their spot and they are out of time, they will get a huge fine, because you were inconsiderate
If you need to stop, do so on the side of the road and stretch your legs, move on, do so again move on till you get to where you can stop they CAN NOT DO THAT
I like articles like this that are trying to get caravanners and truckies to unite on the road. We all need to share it but we must remember truckies are trying to make a living and meet deadlines while we are just cruising. I would also like to urge truckies to be a little more helpful by answering there radios when called up by caravanners. I find it very frustrating when trying to help a truck get around us but they dont answer. I do realise there are alot of people out there who can be very annoying on the radio but you would only need to speak to them for 30 seconds out of your lifetime. Being an ex truck driver I understand both sides of this story.
Don’t think they’re not answering because your a caravan calling them up, half of em don’t answer to getting called up by another truck, & I’m not talking about in populated areas, where often you get idiots in towns carrying on, on the uhf, where drivers will turn it off to not hear it. There’s nowhere near the communication on the highway as there used to be….. I think alot of the blokes out there now are too busy listening to their Mills & Boon romance novels, or self help Yoga meditation podcasts
They are a special breed in moor e ways than one delt with some good ones and some shockers they don’t own the roads and must learn to share
It’s no coincidence that 22% of caravanners are repeat offenders when it comes to parking in truck only parking bays. The same percentage of caravanners has been reported by caretakers of donation overnight rest stops as consistently failing to leave a donation. A very similar percentage would think nothing of emptying their toilet cassettes where ever they choose if no one is looking. It appears this 22% is responsible for just about all of the highly entitled behaviours caravanners are blamed for.
Interesting “statistic” you have referenced! Who comes up with these figures?
Did you 23.6% of caravan owners eat porridge?
A lot of blokes with big rigs like to imagine that they are truck drivers. LOL.
I agree with your article but for an example where more consideration to caravanners could be had by the relevant authorities, is the “partridge VC rest area” on the M31 south of Campbelltown where caravanners have to share the Truck bays as there are none allocated for Caravanners.
Its largly irrelevant whether a ‘heavy vehicle’ is being driven for the purposes of making a living or for recreation. What matters is the safety of drivers and the travelling public. RV drivers certainly would likely have more planning options open to them, and should plan and manage their fatigue appropriately to not stop in heavy vehicle areas if they possibly can. But sometimes, a 1 hr nap in the middle of the day or a coffee stop and bathroom use, will make all the difference to our concentration for the next leg of the journey. Driving a big rig is tiring, it takes extra effort and concentration. My military 10 tonner truck (modified as a motorhome) is old school and very manual, and its tiring. When on the highways, I do sometimes stop for a short break at a truck stop in the middle of the day and I am entitled to do this, on my way to my planned overnight location (usually a caravan park).
We are caravanners of 15 years and always give respect to truck drivers, we assist them to overtake us and never stay in truck-only rest stops. Caravanners should remember that truck drivers are working and need their rest, we are on holidays.
Please remember that the truckies are at work, caravaners generally are not. Give them right of way if we can. So many professional drivers are on a deadline we are not. I never use my 2 way because of the language but i use my mirrors and know who is behind me. I use my indicators to let them know i am ready for them to pass and so many are great full as they flash their indicators after the pass. I even get off the road at times to let the line of traffic behind to get through , its not that hard.
A few days ago I posted on a popular meta caravan / camping group a photo of a caravan in a truck parking bay with a request to RV drivers to consider truckies and refrain from parking in truck parking bays at busy truck stops.
During the time I was there, approx one hour four caravans parked in truck bays making some truckies have to negotiate parking further away.
The truck stop has designated caravan bays unused at that time but further away from the food court entrance.
More than half the responses just showed how self entitled, ignorant, defiant, it’s all about me some are in the RV community.
We often use the long vehicle parking bays at the Service Centre at Wyong along the M1. I have never seen any signs at this centre which divides the parking bays into truck only bays and caravan only bays. Does anyone know if there are any truck only parking bays here?
As an exTruckie I didn’t like stopping at truck bays when I drove, noisy smelly places and could never understand why people in cars and vans parked in these places, they really have a lack of common sense, along with lack of reading skills …………….. I have a chuckle when the fridge van or stock crate parks alongside, hopefully a lesson learned …. Now as I drag my van around the place, I give the big highways and truck stops a big miss but always give a big fella a call to get him around, was even noted by a few that I speak Truck, howzat, never abused either…
Having travelled extensively throughout America our parking areas in Australia leave much to be desired. They are way to small to accommodate both car, caravan and trucks and lack the facilities provided at many rest areas. To few and far between.
I get amazed at what I hear caravan towers doing on the roads. I also see them doing unsafe stuff. My hubby is a great example if a considerate van tower. He pulls off to let cars and if need be trucks, he knows his own and his cars limitations and never takes unnecessary risks. It doesn’t affect our trips to take a moment to be considerate and safe. I applauded him in his efforts.
I always park in the truck parks as my van from draw to spare on the van is 30ft plus the tow it is 4 ft shorter than a semi .
So if I dont park there where do I park . Not in a caravan spot its to small .
I understand the parking aspect of this article but I question the UHF radio part. Everyone I talk to are aware of the use of a UHF to communicate with other travellers and trucks but I don’t recall a trucker ever calling me up to let me know he is coming around. The respect in my experience is not a two way street. If I call them they chat but if I don’t there’s no communication. Maybe more from the truckies would encourage more from the travellers.
My understanding of the road rules is that it is illegal to park in Truck Parking and you can be fined, so why are so many caravaners breaking the law. I never use truck stops, as it is breaking the law.i know of on incident where a truck driver pulled into a truck stop and could not park because it was full of caravans, so he rang the police and they came and gave the caravaners 15 minutes to leave or be fined.
totally agree we all need to consider the truckies more particularly given the number of caravans on the road since COVID. Not only is ensuring we leave the truck parking area for trucks, we also need to communicate better with trucks. Buying a UHF radio for a couple of hundred dollars at most and with the addition of a rear caravan camera you can see what is coming from behind and can communicate with them. Gives you options to either slow down when the truckie wants to pass (and lets you know via the radio) or you can alternatively let the truckie know that you will pull over when safe to do so etc. Takes much of the stress out of driving on single lane highways and backroads.
We are caravanners of a long time and always give respect to truck drivers, we assist them to overtake us and never stay in truck-only rest stops. Caravanners should remember that truck drivers are working and need their rest, we are on holidays.