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Mr Wilson:
'relationships are important' |
Caravanners
accused of 'arrogance'
More respect
needed on our roads: TruckFriendly founder
Have your say
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".
'We all get tarred with
the same brush'
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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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Dennis Amor All Rights Reserved
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