As more and more Australians find themselves hauling large loads for their vacations, three caravan-related traffic accidents in Central Queensland have brought attention to the need for skilled and educated drivers.
According to a recent ABC story, three of the five road collisions in the area during the past two weeks included caravans, according to Charleville’s Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES).
As more people take to the roads for road trips and holidays, heavy vehicles and a lack of experience have been recognised as major contributing factors to incidents involving caravans on Australian roads.
Father and son from Getabout Training Services, John and Carl Eggenhuizen, discussed the rising popularity of caravanning in Australia and some of the pitfalls that newbies frequently make with Drive.
The Eggenhuizens contend that failure to receive enough education and training can result in events of this nature.
And as caravanning becomes increasingly popular, the issue could only worsen.
Australians are turning to caravans and four-wheel drives for their vacation goals, while the country has only recently opened its closed international borders.
And many of these beginners are starting out in the caravanning hobby without any prior expertise with towing.
Many of these people used to take annual trips to Fiji or Europe for the holidays, but they no longer do so.
They previously showed little interest in caravanning, but all of a sudden, they are pulling.
Additionally, they have never in their lives towed anything.
The long-held misconception that caravanning is only for retirees and so-called “grey nomads” has also changed.