The numbers of caravanners and motorhomers on the road has surged in recent years, but a new survey shows that a shocking number of them are far from confident behind the wheel.
Research conducted by Pure Profile on behalf of Caravanning Queensland found 23% of drivers towing a caravan or RV felt nervous when sharing the road with other vehicle types, and 9% admitted to feeling hesitant.
And a worrying 11% said they actually felt panicked when on the road with other large vehicles.
Jason Plant, CEO of Caravan Trade and Industries Association of Queensland, said the research reinforced the importance of continued road safety education for all road users.
Some caravanners feel intimidated by sharing the road with large vehicles. PIC: Cizza
“Every road user has a responsibility to help create safer roads,” he said. “And for new or returning RV owners, they have the added responsibility of educating themselves on how to tow confidently, safely and compliantly, before they even hit the road.”
Caravanning Queensland believes the stress felt on the roads could be because of lack of education on safe caravan practices, with only 7% of the state’s RV owners proactively seeking safety guidance prior to hitting the road.
However, 80% of RV owners who have made the effort to learn more about the safety guidelines for their vehicles say it has made them change the way they prepare for a road trip.
There are a growing number of places that offer everything from towing courses and weight checks to instructions on how to pack a van safely.
As well as commercial organisations, industry events such as the just-finished Let’s Go Sunshine Coast Caravan & Outdoor Expo commonly offer educational masterclasses.
And their importance cannot be overstated.
Ray and Mandy Scarlett have been travelling in their New Age Manta Ray caravan for the past couple of years, including a major trip up into north Queensland.
But, after a recent ‘scare’, they freely admit that they still have plenty to learn. The couple were actually on their way to a rig weight inspection, when their caravan abruptly became detached from the coupling.
“We were driving along and all of a sudden there was this almighty noise,” said Ray. “I pulled over slowly and, when I got out, the drawbar was on the bitumen, still connected to the car by the chains.”
Although the Scarletts had correctly been running their connecting chains a little shorter to stop the drawbar from digging into the bitumen if it came off, Ray had failed to double-check the coupling was secure.
“We were very lucky our mistake didn’t lead to any damage or any injuries,” he said. “The more informed you are, the less likely you are to make a mistake.”
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Need for everyone to do a Towing course, will give them more confidence. I admit I haven’t done a course, but I have been towing trailers, horse floats and caravans for the last 40yrs.
See so many people who just retire buy a big rig to tow a big caravan and are let loose on the roads, a lot are accidents waiting to happen.
Only when I see a BIG truck sitting close to my van’s bumper (tail gating at the extreme). I find most truckies to be considerate & understanding especially when you communicate with them. On our recent trip home from Barcaldine, Aramac, I pulled completely off the road in the sections where the bitumen was a single lane only. As there had been a few mm of rain, the edges were soft the so we stopped, allowing the trucks to continue.
Every car, bus, motorhome should have a UHF CB installed or carried.
It’s not necessarily the lack of caravan/driver skill – a lot of anxiety is caused by idiotic drivers creating dangerous situations. I am often amazed that so many drivers are totally unaware of the danger of cutting in front of a vehicle towing, or overtaking on double lines, etc.
Learning defensive driving skills can only go so far in preventing a catastrophe.