Aussie truckie praises caravanners for simple road act that saves lives: 'Well done'
Australia is known for its great open roads and expansive, sweeping outback. And while the scenery may be breathtaking, the practicalities of sharing narrow, single-lane highways can pose serious challenges, especially when it comes to overtaking or navigating tight bends and blind spots.
When driving larger vehicles such as trucks or caravans, this becomes even harder. But, there is one useful tool proving effective for travellers — ultra-high frequency (UHF) radios.
An Aussie truckie from South Australia shared this week how the devices make journeying safer for caravanners and truck drivers. Posting online, Ben showed three separate incidents of caravans pulling over to allow his truck to pass, using a UHF radio to communicate.
"Three in a row and all three couldn't have done it better," Ben said. "If you want to pull a van around Australia, for your own safety, get a UHF. Yes, some trucks won't answer you, but most will. Well done to these three travellers, be like these three."
In the vision, Ben said open communication "straight away" puts him "at ease" knowing other drivers are willing to coordinate a safe overtake. "When I'm ready to go, I know we're on the same page," he said.
Gary Gardiner from Total Towing Setups earlier told Yahoo News Australia he "highly recommends" travellers use UHF radios, particularly when driving on highways.
Online, other truck drivers applauded the caravan occupants in the video. "No truer words. Those three van drivers did the right and good on them. That's the way it should happen," one man wrote. "Great to see some good behaviour on the road," another commented.
Truck drivers in Australia often advocate for the use of UHF radios among caravan owners as a crucial tool for road safety and communication. On highways and remote roads, where phone signals can be unreliable, UHF radios allow direct, real-time contact between vehicles.
This helps truck drivers alert slower-moving caravans to their presence, coordinate safe overtaking, and avoid dangerous situations. By promoting UHF use, truck drivers aim to reduce road tension, prevent accidents, and improve traffic flow, especially in rural and regional areas where large trucks and caravans frequently share narrow roads.
🛣️ Photo of caravan on highway highlights 'dangerous' problem
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🚐 Aussie retiree's $7,000 caravan debacle highlights major issue
On single-lane or two-lane rural roads, it can be very difficult and dangerous for a truck to overtake a caravan due to limited visibility, long braking distances, and the sheer size of both vehicles.
UHF radios allow truck drivers to communicate directly with caravanners, often asking if they can safely overtake, or requesting the caravan to slow slightly or indicate when it's safe to pass. This coordination between vehicles helps prevent risky manoeuvres and makes the road safer for everyone involved.
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