JANUARY 2020
     

Mr Wilson: 'relationships are important'

Caravanners accused of 'arrogance'

More respect needed on our roads: TruckFriendly founder

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AN avid caravanner who founded a nationwide caravan road safety campaign has called for more courtesy on our roads and rest areas.

Ken Wilson's TruckFriendly program is designed to help RV travellers better understand how to work with others, particularly truck drivers, on Australian highways.

"Respect is earned so if caravanners, RV drivers and truck drivers want to be shown respect then we all also need to start showing some respect for others," he said.

"It won't happen overnight and we won't educate all, but we can make a big difference to the safety, enjoyment and stress of our trip."

TruckFriendly places a great deal of importance on relationships at rest stops and other areas where the various groups of travellers come into contact.

Mr Wilson has accused some caravanners of "arrogance and lacking respect for the law and other people".

While admitting that the vast majority of caravanners wanted to do the right thing, he said there was a problem in educating the minority that gave other caravanners and RV drivers a bad name.

"Unfortunately we all get tarred with the same brush," he said.

Mr Wilson urged caravanners and other RVers to lobby politicians and others for more signage at rest stops and roadhouses to help avoid the "confusion and frustration" that currently exists.

"There are also few roadhouses that have signed caravan park bays and they leave little options for caravanners to park anywhere else but in the long bays which may or may not be signed for trucks," he said.

"If there are no other options than to use one of the longer bays then I ask that respect is shown and where practical park at the ends of the bay so another caravan can park behind you instead of taking up two long bays."

Mr Wilson said there was a need for more separated rest areas where all road users could share common facilities like toilets, tables, seats and shelters.

This would allow travellers to have a quiet rest and maybe share a cup of coffee, cake and chat with a truck driver who is working away from family and friends.

"There are many female truck drivers on the roads now and we should show them courtesy by having proper toilet facilities at truck stops instead of expecting them to squat beside the truck," he said.

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