About The Project

Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more media coverage of accidents involving vehicles being towed. A common headline is a ‘caravan rollover’. Many of these accidents are avoidable and we aim to educate drivers to reduce this occurrence. This will involve educating drivers on the appropriate tow vehicle for their RV, as well as understanding how different driving a vehicle and towing is from driving a standard passenger vehicle only. You can tow with a standard driver’s licence; however, there are currently no education or licensing requirements around being able to do so. The RV Safety Awareness project aims to educate the public about the unique conditions that occur when towing to ensure safe people on our roads.

Tow capacity, tow ball mass (TBM), kerb weight, gross vehicle mass (GVM), gross combined mass (GCM) and payload are all terms that every recreational vehicle owner should understand. Unfortunately, very few do. There is confusion surrounding what manufacturers advertise as vehicle weight and towing capacity, especially once accessories and modifications are made to vehicles. Overloaded vehicles can have catastrophic consequences. Correct weight distribution is integral, especially with caravans and camper trailers. If weight is poorly distributed, it greatly affects the trailers stability, especially at high speed. Educating RV drivers about weight will help encourage safe vehicles on our roads.

Recreational vehicles are larger than a standard passenger car and need to be driven with this in mind. Additionally, road and weather conditions also need to be taken into consideration. RVs often cannot travel safely at the legal speed limit. We aim to educate drivers on how speed affects the vehicle handling and braking capacity. Safe speeds need to be addressed with a combination of factors including the vehicle, environment and driver.

Overtaking while driving an RV is a bit trickier than a passenger car. Unfortunately, we see many accidents that have occurred when an RV has tried to overtake. Underestimating how long it can take to get a heavier and longer vehicle to get around another vehicle can end up with vehicles off the road or rolling over. This can be due to many factors including road conditions, speed and vehicle weight distribution. RVs are often being overtaken as they do need to go slower on the roads in many occasions. Other road users need to be aware of how to overtake an RV safely. RV drivers also need to make allowances for faster vehicles to overtake and, for example, avoid travelling in convoys that are difficult to let others past. Educating both RV and other drivers about overtaking safely encourages safe speeds and safe people.

UHF Radios are a great tool for communicating with other road users but are also massively underutilised. UHF Radios allow you to communicate with other road users about hazards, trucks that want to overtake safely or enable you to navigate an oversize load. Knowing what channel to use and when is important. UHFs are also handy when you are out of mobile phone range and need help. Educating more RV users on the benefits of UHF radio and how to use them will leader to safer people on our roads.

Driving an RV is more strenuous and tiring than a typical passenger car, and therefore you need more rest. Driver fatigue has been well established as a critical contributor to accidents. RVs are often travelling long distances and drivers need to plan where to rest. There is rest area etiquette, and there needs to be understanding between RV drivers and trucks. RV drivers need to be aware of what areas allow for a rest versus areas that allow camping.

What should you do if your RV breaks down? It isn’t always easy to get a large rig safely off the road, even to change a tyre. Unfortunately, injuries and even fatalities can occur in these situations. The RV Safety Awareness Project aims to educate people about what to do if your vehicle breaks down or you have an accident. RVs bring unique problems in these situations. We will also recommend what safety items people should have on board so they can be seen and remain safe.

Australians have strongly embraced the RV lifestyle and with over 750,000 RVs registered in Australia it is no surprise when you see RV after RV on our roads. Now is the time to look at creating a culture of safety, courtesy and respect. With these principles in mind, the industry can flourish. Safe people will ensure that everyone can enjoy their RV adventures.

Some RVs require more than a car licence to drive. RV drivers need to be aware of the licence requirements for their vehicle. Manufacturers and retailers also need to understand the impacts that loading an RV will have on the total vehicle weight as the driver may be unaware that they require a higher license once the vehicle is ready to travel. Understanding licensing requirements makes for safe people.