A caravanning couple have issued a stark road warning to fellow travellers just in time for the summer holidays. With Christmas around the corner, thousands, if not millions of Aussies, are preparing to kick off their celebrations at campsites and beachside towns around the country.
But before they embark on their journey, there is an important safety factor they should keep in mind, one the roaming couple told Yahoo News Australia. If you’re travelling as a pair, you should both know how to tow, say Daz and Lee.
The advice seems simple, but the duo, who have been chasing the sun in their 4WD and caravan for the past two years, insist they’ve seen firsthand just how beneficial it can be.
While leading his local State Emergency Service in Victoria, Daz told Yahoo News Australia he saw road devastation “at the sharpest end of the sphere”.
Because of this, he “highly recommends [travellers] get their partner behind the wheel in all sorts of conditions”.
From emergency situations to fatigue, if only one person is capable of towing, the consequences could be “life-altering or life-ending”, he warned.
With a rise in accidents involving vans prompting calls from authorities to provide specialised training for drivers, and a jump in road fatalities, it’s more important than ever to make sure the safety of a trip doesn’t fall entirely on one person’s shoulders.
If there’s an emergency situation, this could lead to a complete disaster, Daz said.
“We want to inspire people to share the load and share the journey and trust each other, but also learn along the way in a really easy environment, not in a scorned, stressed environment, [after] there’s been an accident,” he told Yahoo.
“Say hubby’s hurt himself and then all of a sudden, for the first time ever, his wife or partner is trying to tow a 22-foot caravan down a highway to a hospital.
“It’s not the day that you want to learn how to do that.”
Couple encourage caravan drivers to practice in remote areas
Daz, who already had his heavy duty truck licence, took it upon himself to teach Lee after they retired and hit the road.
While staying in remote areas such as farms, she practised hitching, parking, and reversing their 4WD and caravan.
Combined, the set-up is about 16-feet-long.
“Pick a quiet road and have a drive and feel what it feels like to put your foot on the brake and pull off on the side of the road,” Lee told Yahoo.
“See what it feels like when a car comes past you…those sorts of little things. I think if you just start small, then your confidence grows.”
Daz and Lee say it is vital for any travelling pairs to both know how to tow a caravan. Source: Our Salty Life
Confidence is key when towing a caravan, she insisted. Taking a course beforehand is also a great idea, she noted.
“I felt pretty comfortable getting behind the wheel on a quiet road here and there to try and get a feel for the caravan initially and last year I drove the van from Phillip Island through to Sunbury last year on the Monash Freeway,” Lee said.
The trek is about two-and-half hours.
“Sure I don’t love that but I know that I can do it and I’m confident enough to do it,” she said.
“It’s not about scaring people. It’s not even about equality, it’s just about saying you can both share the driving and that makes it safer, and if we make it safer, we save lives.”
Given his background, Daz admitted he’s a bit of a “nervous driver” and initially found it hard to give up the control.
“But I just knew that it was for the betterment for everybody, for me, Lee and other travellers, to do so.”
The couple hope others follow suit.
Some travellers already are, and have shared their excitement over their newfound skills on the pair’s social media.
Other top tips from Our Salty Life
Brush up on your first aid and carry a comprehensive first aid kit, preferably one that has the latest gear for snake bites.
Starlink. Communication is key. If any other campers or you have an emergency, you can contact services.
Online research. There are so many things you can learn about travel experiences and what people recommend on social media.
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