In line with the greater focus being on caravan towing behaviour and safe loading practices nationwide, Victorian police are specifically targeting vanners this week as part of a road safety operation.
Police say they will be focusing on major arterials such as the Murray Valley Highway and Calder Highway. There will also be widespread alcohol and drug testing as part of the operation.
Motorists travelling in the region are being advised to familiarise themselves with the requirements for towing a caravan or trailer, as well as ensuring it is registered and in a roadworthy condition.
Swan Hill Highway Patrol Senior Constable, David Healey, said that, unfortunately, caravans and trailers are involved in serious collisions and rollovers.
Police will be targetting caravanners in a road safety operation. PIC: Cizza
“While weight can be a contributing factor, more often than not people lack the knowledge and skill for safe towing,” he said. “We’re coming into a period of the year where caravanning and towing becomes more prevalent, and we’d certainly rather prevent these collisions than respond to a collision that could have been avoided.”
He said Operation Nomad offered police an opportunity to educate and generate discussions around safe towing and road safety more broadly.
“We hope drivers will be self-motivated to prioritise safety and compliance,” he said. “For those who choose to be blatantly ignore the rules and put other road users at risk, we won’t hesitate to enforce the law.”
Caravans and trailers are required to adhere to strict weight limits and must not exceed length and rear overhang limits.
Penalties for drivers in breach of mass limit range from $296 to $1976, while the penalties for a driver breaching width, length and height limit or load restraint requirements range from $296 to $790.
Safe towing tips for caravans and trailers include:
# Are you confident that you van is loaded correctly and meets all legal weight requirements? Comment below.
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Good article that hopefully will make individuals a little more aware of their responsibilities. Maybe a few more heavy fines and the message will get through, to those who scoff at the regulations around towing.
caravans that travel together should keep a safe distant apart so traffic can pass safely instead they travel so close together with absolute disregard to other road users
This is more like it Max, this what the article is about it’s not just about weight. It’s stupid and thoughtless driving that is being targeted.
Had a full size rig go passed us recently, had to be doing 110kph at least and while that might be legal it was on a narrow road with no shoulders and a stiff side wind blowing. Hope they made to where ever they were headed.
There are too many obviously overweight rigs on the road.
Owners should be fined heavily.
Operation Nomad should be extended to all states, all year round.
Well done to Victorian Police.
Hear Hear!
Good to see. We have just come back from 2months north around QLD and NSW and certainly did see some rather silly practices by some drivers
Just did a 1500klm round trip from Cairns to Mackay and back. Absolutely appalling behaviour from some vanners. Saw one that only just managed to save his rig (guranteed new undies will be needed0. Speeding up on overtaking lanes seems to be an unwritten law amongst many vanners.. I just wisjh all states would do weight checks and put the overweight rigs off the road immediately…1 days towing grace to get to next major town..if no major town then thats the van owners problem.
I have said this time & time again. A national speed limit for towing needs to be introduced at 100kmh. As far as I know WA is the only state or territory that has this rule. As a rule of thumb I do not go over 95kmh and I’m always wary of traffic behind me so they can overtake me safely. It is also the best speed for good fuel economy for my tow vehicle.
And NSW .
I think all weigh bridges should require all vehicles towing vans or boats to be weighed. Recently whilst driving in NSW I noticed that all vehicles with cgm over 4.5 tonnes are required to pull in. Why not in Vic?
In NSW it is only vehicles over 4.5 tonnes GVM (NOT GCM) that are required to pull in to weighbridges if directed.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest causes of caravan accidents is that the weight on the wheels of the van is greater than the weight on the wheels of the car.
This gives rise to the “Tail wagging the Dog” situation so regularly seen.
Prime examples are people trying to tow big 3000kg + vans with the popular twin-cab utes.
Stupidity in the extreme, and accidents looking for a place to happen.
If Safety is of ANY concern, ALWAYS the weight on the wheels of the car should be AT LEAST 10% greater than the wheels of the van.
Inconvenient truth. Not negotiable.
Not a grey nomad but maybe sooner than later…recent trip to eyre peninsula s.a. a number of occasions with obviously friends travelling together with vans, three or four in tandem, travelling in close proximity, making it difficult for us without vans to pass….very frustrating. I did see other caravanners leaving plenty of room, a kilometre or so, but very annoying seeing those travelling so close to their friends there is no hope sometimes for others to pass. Some consideration please.
Once again people asking for punitive measures to be taken instead of widespread education especially on tv and at each caravan sales yard and repair facility.Maybe reward people for following rules and regulations then more might abide.Funny how they want punishment until it’s their turn.
The only way of getting a heads up from some of these offenders is to hit their hip pocket, aka fine them.
Agreed. And who does Belly (above) think should pay for TV time in a vain attempt to “educate” caravanners who generally are older folk not keen to be told how to drive.
“Been driving 50 years Mate. Never had an accident Mate. Ya just godda drive to the conditions Mate”
This is what I regularly am told by other drivers I meet on my full-time travels.
And the idea that caravan sales yards should be made to “educate” buyers is equally stupid.
Car salesmen must teach customers how to drive?
What next? Stove vendors must teach people how to cook so that they don’t burn their little fingers? Spare me.
“Reward people for following rules and regulations”. Yeah, right.
How about people just obey the law, with a little bit of common sense thrown in for good measure.
The sooner towing licences are required for vans above, say, 1500kg the safer we all will be.
A towing course should be mandatory for anything that requires brakes. A certificate or license endorsement to be presented before buying or hiring a caravan/camper that requires brakes, generally 750kg or more
Some of the sales rep are only interested in the sale
You are right.
Yes it’s always the lowest common denominator that is used. Punishment seems to be the focus, instead of rewarding good behaviour. Rewards – It works for dogs, so why not for people. Obviously if it’s sheer arrogance or blind stupidity then punishment has it’s place.
I’ve mentioned this before on GNT hoping for a request to state governments, by GNT, on behalf of we subscribers.
Some publicly owned roadside weighbridges in Australia allow carravanners to take readings when unmanned.
Why not more.
It would encourage people to be responsible about their weights, and adjust them accordingly without costly mobile weighbridge charges that may or may not be accurate on uneven surfaces.
The ones I’ve used have a visible scale monitor through a window, or illuminated overhead.
Public weighbridges are regularly checked for accuracy.
Would GNT be interested in representing us in approaching all State Governments?
Why is the weigh station on the Hume not working.
Was in 2019.
Love it!
We have just traveled to Melbourne from Brisbane via the Cunningham and Newell Goat Tracks. We tow a 19 ft van with Ford Ranger traveling between 90 – 95 Km/hr, I can’t count the number of times were overtaken by other rigs doing 110 km or better. Mainly Newby’s with brand new Tugs and brand-new caravans. Frightening to say the least.
We’ve had similar experiences, some of them doing 110kph in wet conditions with a 45kph side wind blowing.
Absolutely insanity.
I had one van comjng down from Rockhampton, i do roughly 90 95 and watch behind and move over or slow when several cars are behind.
This time i saw this Silverado miles back over taking with a van, before i new it he was pushjng up my rear and he overtook just shy of a bend noway he could see whTs coming, if he wasnt doing 120km p/hr i would be surprised, i gave him a mouth full on the two way ,reply was, pull over and i break your nose, im legal and can do what i want.
He was ovetaking two at a time sometimes.
They even over take me when doing a right hand turn.
I just hope all the Bob and Marge’s towing vans at least look out for cyclists also riding on the road. I was collected twice by 2 different Bob and Marges, over two years whilst cycletouring with my dog and his trailer, in both accidents, they said they didn’t see me, I am lit up like a xmas tree during the day and low light conditions, they were both booked. Just please look out for us cyclists, we ARE ALLOWED on the road too.
Try and have red and blue flashing lights.