OCTOBER 2021

Pressing need for education

CCA provides lyrical advice on safety

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THERE is a pressing need for caravanners to be educated on their vehicles' ratings and masses, according to the Caravan Council of Australia.

General manager and founder Colin Young has even composed catchy lyrics emphasising the necessity of staying safe.

"It is quite obvious that the misunderstanding ‒ and the ignoring ‒ of caravan ratings and masses are a prime contributing factor in the number of serious problems on the road," he said.

"Another prime contributing factor is the poor maintenance and preparation of many caravans ‒ and sometimes their tow-vehicles ‒ before commencing a trip."

Mr Young said news reports of caravans being involved in accidents and various "to-be-applauded" caravan road safety and driver awareness projects showed the pressing need for educating caravanners on the two vital issues.

The CCA was frequently asked by caravanners to provide clarification of the different caravan and tow-vehicle ratings and masses ... usually because they had been stopped to have their vehicles weighed or because they had experienced serious swaying or jackknifing.

The CCA has a range of diagrams on its website explaining the various terms ... and has now  provided lyrics that cover the critical aspects of preparing and towing a caravan in a safe and legal manner.

Mr Young hoped the younger "back-seat caravanners" would create a catchy tune so they could entertain and educate the "older front-seat caravanners" about the necessity of staying safe.

Towing caravans for Rec-reation ... Not Wreck-creation,

It's a good life for the 'vanners who live out on the road,

Seeing our great country, without a fixed abode.

But there's danger ever lurking on our highways when you drive,

So be careful when you travel, so you get back home alive.

Towing sure can be a problem, if something isn't right,

It may be out of mind, but it's never out of sight.

So check that all's OK, both the tow-rig and the 'van,

And enjoy the pleasures of your trips, as safely as you can.

Is the 'van in sound condition, are mechanicals still good,

Are you never overloaded, does it tow the way it should.

Is the ball-load as it should be, not too high and not too low,

To give the safest handling, on whatever roads you go?

Are the tyres still roadworthy, and still have lots of grip.

Have you had the brakes adjusted, so they'll never lock or slip,

Are the pressures set correctly, as the makers recommend,

To give the needed traction, on a hill or on a bend?

Are all the lights still shining, and the coupling's done up tight,

Are the safety-chains and shackles still connected safe and right.

Are your heavy goods stored safely, in the middle of the 'van,

Are the wheels and bearings still turning well, as smoothly as they can?

Do you understand the meaning of each rating and each force,

Of the tow-rig and the caravan, and their legalise of course?

There's the ATM and ball-load, the tare and GTM,

There's the GCM and tow-bar specs, you need to know 'bout them.

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