Just 5% of caravanners in Australia have undertaken towing education, according to a leading industry body.
The revelation comes after another spate of accidents involving caravans sparked renewed calls for the introduction of compulsory towing training, and possibly a new driver’s licence class.
While the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) says it opposes a new approach to licencing, it does strongly support the idea of increasing towing education.
It says that currently only about 5% of caravanners have taken a towing course, and it is pushing to try to obtain subsidised towing courses for those who wished to do them.
“Navigating different risks on the road is difficult to teach in theory, and practical instruction on how to react when confronted with these risks can only assist in getting caravanners home safely after their trip away,” said CIAA CEO, Stuart Lamont.
However, other organisations – including the South Australian Road Transport Association – are in favour of more drastic action.
The head of that group, Steve Shearer, argues that – as professional drivers had to undergo numerous tests as they drove heavier equipment – the same principles should be applied to those who towed caravans.
His call though has received a mixed response in grey nomad circles.
Sheryl Crawford, a full-time nomad for five years, said it made no sense to force everyone currently towing a caravan to do a course … but it might be a good idea if ‘newbies’ did.
While she said not all novice vanners were ‘clueless’, she had seen many who had no idea how to safely load their vehicles.
“We have also seen people with fifth wheelers, caravans, and wind-ups hit things while trying to park up for the night,” she said. “Backing and not knowing the size of what they are towing is a huge problem for newbies … plus they mount gutters going around corners.”
However, truckie and caravanner, Simon Croxson, said he had seen enough convince him that anyone towing anything that required a braking system should be tested and their licence upgraded to a new class.
“If a towing licence was brought in that taught about weights, driving techniques, defensive driving techniques, how to correctly load both vehicle and caravan/trailer, it could only lead to safer practices on the road,” he said.
* Are you surprised / shocked that apparently only 5% of caravanners have undertaken some sort of towing education? Do you think towing courses should be subsidised to encourage greater participation? Comment below.
I’m not surprised it’s only 5%, as must caravanners seem convinced they know exactly what they’re doing. Looking at vans on the road, it’s pretty evident this in incorrect, as loading/overloading is very common and I suspect the resistance to formal licensing is because people are afraid they’ll not pass!
We bought our first van in 1988 and are now on number ten. I’m sure there is something we can learn, so we’ll find a course and book in. I approached our insurer to see if they offered a discount if o completed a course, but unfortunately not.
It would be great if it were subsidized, but really, we’re all happy to spend thousands on accessories we don’t need, surely we can afford a towing course that may save our lives, it someone elses.
Great approach to a complex issue Bruce. I’ve been towing for about 10 years but recently retired and looking to hit the road with our new van. I agree…we can never stop learning and I’ll be finding someone to get me that course.
To be blunt, unfortunately a new licensing category won’t come with an inbuilt upgraded awareness or a dose of the smarts.
I believe anyone setting out to tow a van from some to be set date forward should be required to do a basic theory and a practical test, just as a person has to do to obtain a boat licence, a motorcycle licence or a heavy vehicle licence.
There can easily be a “grandfathering’ clause, those that are already towing and have experience will not need to do a course, merely apply to have their license upgrade endorsed.
I myself have held a Multi Combination License for over 47 years and have many years experience driving multi trailer road trains and B Double combinations, as well as towing caravans, so like others with real on road experience would likely not have to do a towing course.
In my opinion some one has to make the call and start the ball rolling to protect people from them selves.
What I in fact can see happening, is the Insurance industry taking the lead and requiring anyone insuring a caravan to have an endorsed licence should they wish to tow it. It will get to a point where they will begin to protect the own business due to increasing claims coupled with soaring costs…and to protect premiums!
As with Heavy Motor insurance, by all means, insure the truck and go and drive it, but if you have an accident the policy will not pay as you are not licensed to drive that class of vehicle.
I have an HR licence which enables me to drive any rigid vehicle and tow a trailer up to 9 tons.
Maybe thats the licence that all caravanners should have.
If only 5% have done a course. What is the percentage of vans in accidents to the number of registered vans on the road. If you want to do a course it should be voluntary not compulsory.
Sorry but I just see it as a Cash Grab, how many idiots have a full driving license but still go hooning around, speeding, running red lights etc so I don’t think forcing people to undertake a specific driving course just to tow a caravan is going to be any safer, those same idiots are still going to be out there only now they have a license to do it, who is going to benefit… only the companies that provide the training.
Neil, I think you’re confusing the lack of ‘policing’ of current road users, with making some attempt to ensure those towing, understand the physics behind loading, speed, awareness etc.
It’s not a Cash Grab, nobody expects the administrating bodies to train, test & certify for free. Is your driver’s licence free?
Been driving trucks and machinery all my life, have articulated license,73 years old and still driving driving buses part time maybe insurance companies should give discounts for appropriate license
Be interested in your thoughts on if you think your original licence test or your experience gave you the skills to drive trucks and machinery for so long?
Probably time for him to have a retest I’d say.
I think this should be government mandated- I have seen way too many caravaners who should not be on the road- they are a dangerous menace. You cant drive an articulated truck without a special class of license- it should definitely be the same for caravaners
Another thing- i was talking a guy working on a caravan builders stand at the Rose Hill show some years ago and he stated he had worked in the caravan industry for over 30 years and believed that over half of all insurance claims for accidents with caravans were denied due to overloading- whether that be ball weight or axle weight or load capacity of the tow vehicle
Education on any new topic people are undertaking is useful. It’s a shame that owners don’t understand how they might find out new information or in the least positively affirm their practises. However, where are courses advertised?
In WA the RAC run free towing courses for anyone wanting to do the course, numbers per session are limited and they even provide vehicles and trailers to practice or you can take your own set up. My husband and I found it really useful and I can now confidently reverse our caravan and hubby directs when needed.
I have been travelling Australia in Caravans & Motorhomes for the last 18 years working Earthmoving and Truck driving, I believe that most of the people towing a Caravan have no idea of how to control their vehicle when they get into trouble, they can not reverse their van or park it correctly. I have a HR licence and the people towing vans and large boats should have some sort of training, to pull a trailer with a Truck you must have a HR or MC licence something should be done and not leave it until there is a Death on the roads.
I been towing trailers and caravans for 50+ years and would most likely not do a course but as put by Dean P, a ‘grandfather clause’ RPL for Years of towing would be my way. I do believe that pele who have never towed any trailer let alone a caravan should do a towing course as they would have lnow idea what they were getting into and I believe that this is evident now with accidents and observing young and older drivers with big (sail) off-road vans behind smaller utes/suvs (that manufacturers say are capable of towing these vans) going down the road at the maximum speed limit of the road (110kph) and being over the road. Trucks have a limit of 100kph and I believe that caravans/trailers should be at that top limit too. Their are those drivers doing 80kph again because they don’t know what their combination of car and van will do. Maybe those doing 90kph are the drivers who have a very good idea about their combination and are also considering their fuel costs too, that they are travelling at a speed that is good for e everyone, truckies, other motorist, as they are easier to overtake. Why would a driver of a car/caravan even motorhomes, want to overtake a truck travelling at 100kph and you at the same speed, other than an inexperienced driver who doesn’t want to be held up by trucks or other vehicles. That’s enough for now as I may say things that people don’t want to hear.
Here’s a thought, if a towing course/licence is obtained then the rediculous NSW caravan rego cost’s be reduced form $450.00 in my case to $85.00 similar to VIC
As a x truck driver for the 40 years we did not do courses for driving we had experinced drivers explaning things to you and there was less accidents then there is now and if you do a induction on any thing now it is open book or drive around the block 3or 4 times they take your money and send you out on the hiway.
In Tasmania there are no courses available, even if you want to do one.
It is quite evident though that most people steering cars about are not actually drivers. They steer, make the car go, get it to stop and make the music come out.
They have no knowledge of the weight, loading limits, drivetrain characteristics, vehicle size compared to lane width, vehicle length vs parking space, vehicle dynamics in the wind, they do not know that front wheel drives corner differently to rear wheel drives, nor do they understand how to use momentum to their advantage. Their vehicles wear out prematurely or end up as wrecks early on.
To be a real driver is to understand the vehicle, use it like a carpenter uses his plane and aim to keep the vehicle in A1 condition for many years.
Only then can a driver be in the right mindset to go towing.
Most need a course, some are naturals.
Am speaking from 55 years experience, fifty two of that towing. Everything from small trailers, to big tandems (3.5 tonnes), boats, small vans, big vans and driving trucks.
The cost of these towing courses are astronomical which will put people off, however everybody that tows a caravan should at least have a heavy Truck license.
I see there were alot of replies maybe this and the Bruce Highway issues should be put up in the GNT Newsletter for more comments. There does not seem to be many here.
I think the proof of this concept is how many owners taken the time to have had their rigs properly weighed. From what I’ve heard talking to other vanners, my bet is around that same benchmark…5%.