A caravan has been involved in a spectacular accident at Ulmarra near Grafton in northern New South Wales.
Incredibly, no one was injured when a 4WD towing a caravan leapt over the levee wall near the Ulmarra Ferry, with the van flipping on its top
Initial reports suggested another vehicle had been involved in the accident but investigations into the accident, which happened yesterday afternoon, are continuing.
A police spokesperson told the Grafton Daily Examiner that a crane would be required to remove the caravan from the ditch.
There have been a spate of recent caravan accidents. Earlier this week, with a 70-year-old caravanner was killed after a collision with a semi-trailer on the Warrego Highway near Charleville, and a few days earlier a man in his 50s was lucky to escape without serious injury when he rolled his caravan after swerving to avoid hitting a goat near Kalbarri.
I feel that the aftermath of these accident stories need a revisit after the investigation so people know if this was a loss of control issue or another vehicle etc was involved.
Garry, couldn’t agree more. Get to the facts and then we can start a conversation about what needs to be done. Feel sorry for these folks in any case.
This was a case of the driver falling asleep and or blacking out due to heart issues or sleep apnea that have gone unchecked, meaning this could happen again to this driver. this could have been much worse if this driver hit an oncoming car. Lucky for anyone else he didn’t
Can we please ask that when you post about a van incident it includes the reason/cause. We need to reduce the armchair experts that think all incidents are caused by being over weight or incorrectly loaded.
So Driver/Vehicle/Environment are a good place to start. And yes I am a HR driver
I agree with you Derek. I am an HR driver also.
yes – a lot of possible causes from:
wind gusts or turbulence from a large vehicle,
another vehicle causing the victim to swerve and have the accident while other drives on, maybe oblivious to the carnage, or just doesn’t care
dodging an animal, – a real no-no especially when towing something,
road surface defects
TIREDNESS,
trying to over-correct when a sway starts,
maybe some mechanical fault.
If it’s a “one vehicle” accident rest assured you’ll get a Careless Driving charge -a friend had an officer hand him a ticket through the window while still trapped inside and in a ditch!
to name a few
I’m a MC licence holder and drive a road train from Adelaide to Darwin, because of the pressures put on me on the road by some of the people going north for the winter , I’m scared it is only a matter of time before
I kill someone , with 20 years driving heavy vehicles and a clean licence I still can’t stop a truck and 3 trailers on a 5 cent piece. It’s time to get another job or go crazy with worry.
How many times in the country have I seen trailers, boats, camper trailers, trucks, caravans pass me when I am doing 100-110kph. I just get out of their way. That is suicidal stuff.
People think as I have been told so many times their car tows it well at high speed. Sure it does until something goes wrong at high speed or speed related “fish tailing” then all hell breaks loose. They tow something that’s starts “fishtailing” or swaying or swerving to miss animals…hit the brakes…and that’s it your wrecked your car and van. If you are lucky you are still alive.
Ahhhh….come on …Slow down when towing anything at all in the country , its the best most commonsense policy. You will live longer too !
With increasing age of some grey nomads health conditions should also be taken into acct including reaction times when driving a car let alone a caravan. However most new caravans from reputable builders have ESC and brake away cables to prevent rollofer, fishtailing etc
which was the exact cause of this accident
I think that the licenseing laws should be reviewed as you get people who have driven cars all their lives not towing angthing and then decide to get a caravan and go travelling and don’t know how to control the combination of car and caravan, also you have those people who buy a large caravan or 5th wheeler and tow it with car licence without the knowledge of howtow an articulated vehicle as some these combinations are as large as a semi and you can’t legally drive a semi without the appropriate licence.
I am a caravannerbin my 50’s and I must say that anyone swerving to miss an animal should not be towing anything. You just don’t do it. Better that the animal cops it rather than you, your passengers and other road users. Should have your fine doubled for being stupid enough to swerve for an animal.
You rarely see Campervans or 5th wheel Van’s in accidents. Or even horse floats for that matter.
But you see lot’s of caravans and/or the tow vehicle having accidents/ incidents/breakdowns.
Considering novice tourists used to driving their own small vehicle around cities manage in vast numbers to drive campervans with few incidents is a notable example of good stable vehicle design.
With the towbar caravans It’s all about levels of risk versus experience
If people are legally able to take those higher risks,and put others at risk too,then they (and the voters that voted for the laws) can only hold themselves 100% accountable for that.
I try and drive my vehicle (only) when caravans are not travelling such as very early or very late. I find it much safer ( and quicker) that way as an interim strategy
I will watch with interest IF the licensing and caravan stability requirements get ramped up to Euro levels
If they don’t then Insurance premium rises may just force the issue or push people over to campervans/5th wheelers