Caravan driver's 'scary' act exposes major problem on Aussie roads
Footage of a swaying caravan travelling along a busy highway was captured during the last-minute dash home at the end of the Easter weekend on Monday, and it highlights a growing safety concern on Aussie roads.
Hannah Jones told Yahoo News she had enjoyed her long weekend camping in the rural town of Pemberton, in Western Australia's southwest, and was travelling along the Kwinana Freeway when she spotted the towed caravan whipping side to side ahead of her.
"The swaying was scary! We thought there was going to be an accident," she told Yahoo News. "All of the cars behind and to the side of him were avoiding him."
In a bid to get out of harm's way, Hannah overtook the swaying caravan but second guessed whether he was even aware of the risk — saying he appeared to have "no care in the world" as she passed him.
"[He had the] window down smiling. I'm sure he would have known from his side mirrors or even felt it. He seemed very confident," she said.
🚐 'Incredible' moment in caravan crash shows hidden problem on roads
😲 Warning after couple's 'scary' caravan rollover just 50km from home
🫧 Warning over 'silent caravan killer' costing Aussie travellers $10,000
There has been many incidents of swaying caravans recently reported by Yahoo News and many experts are concerned there is a lack of understanding on how to correctly and safely load caravans as more and more appear on Aussie roads. The swaying van above appeared to have extra features added to the rear and roof which may have affected its towing weight.
Incorrect loading means the weight distribution between a car and towed caravan is off, posing a heightened chance of the driver being unable to control the vehicle. A swaying caravan almost caused a driver to collide with a 57-tonne truck last October and there has been many incidents where authorities have been forced to respond to overturned caravans on the road after drivers lost control.
Simply put — caravan loading can be the difference between life and death, RAC claims manager Glen Walker previously told Yahoo News.
"It is crucial caravan owners prioritise learning how to safely maintain, load and tow their vans," Glen said. "It's also critical to keep the caravan balanced, with the correct weight on the tow-hitch, by distributing weight evenly when packing."
What to keep in mind:
Weight of vehicle
Weight of caravan
The weight of the vehicle and towed caravan combined
Overall weight distribution of the vehicle and towed caravan combined
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