Rural Road Safety Month urges all road users to fix alarming issue of rural road crashes
September is Rural Road Safety month & with over 89% of camping trips regional, this is an important message
In support of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, and with 840,000 registered RVs in Australia, Caravan Industry Association of Australia would like to remind all campers of the importance of being alert and prepared.
During Rural Road Safety Month, the caravan industry will deliver safety messages daily to its RV and camping audiences, messaging will include pre-planning, understanding your RV setup including towing and your caravan weights, fatigue management and reminding people to be patient.
With two in three road deaths occurring on regional roads, new research from the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) has detailed why all Australians have a personal responsibility to take greater action.
September is also a peak family camping holiday period as kids enjoy their Spring midterm break and we know for similar holiday periods that 71% of campers will travel over 250 kms from their home and stay away an average of 4.8 nights.
'All road users have a responsibility to road safety when using our roads. We encourage our camping families these school holidays to be patient and not rush' says Keelan Howard GM of Marketing & Communications, Caravan Industry Association of Australia.
'Planning starts before the key is turned, get your car and RV serviced, take a refresher towing course if needed and plan your trip. Plan your trip before you leave, how far you intend to travel each day, plan your rest and fatigue management stops and book your accommodation in advance'.
ARSF Founder and CEO Russell White said the most concerning piece of research was the number of respondents who admitted to unpreparedness and bad behaviour when driving in rural areas, a combination he believes is lethal.
"On one hand, the research is showing a shocking lack of resilience, which is essential on rural roads, along with very lax attitudes towards being safe in these high risk environments," Mr White said.
Keelan Howard wants to remind everyone, it isn't just about getting to your destination.
'Our research also indicates that travellers are at greatest risk on Sundays and Monday when they are returning home from their camping trip, maybe tired after a big camping trip and focussed on just getting home. We urge travellers to once again stop for a minute and make sure you have planned your trip, make sure you are rested and don't rush. The roads will be busy as other campers return home' advises Keelan Howard
Co – existing with other road users, in particular, Heavy Vehicles is an important part of motoring, using a UHF and with your channel displayed clearly on the back your van facilitates good communication for overtaking or reporting hazards to on coming vehicles.
When traversing Rural Roads with long distances between towns, it is important to have a good night's sleep and, take appropriate rest breaks (15 minutes every 2 hours) this heightens your alertness to hazards rural roads can cause you to encounter. Ensure you Do not use designated truck stops for your overnight rest breaks. Plan your breaks.
Hazards can include narrow sealed or unsealed roads with soft shoulders or loose gravel causing less traction. Roaming livestock and wildlife portray a different hazard and, can cause serious damage should a collision with a large animal occur. Mechanical items such as spare bearings, seals and grease along with, appropriate tools to carry out some basic repairs to keep you on the road.
Before planning your trip, consider a Towing Education course and, or a First aid course as well as knowing how to use your communication devices appropriately. Carry ample water in case of a break down allowing 5 – 7 litres per person per day.
A basic first aid kit is important to add to your equipment. Help may be minutes hours or, days away. Be prepared
Throughout Rural Road Safety Month, individuals, businesses, and community organisations are encouraged to share information, host local events, and make a promise to be the change they want to see on rural roads and to #chooseroadsafety not just across the month, but 365 days of the year.
Those supporting Rural Road Safety Month are also encouraged to utilise Rural Road Safety Month Instagram and Facebook filters by searching ARSF, Aus Roads or Rural Road Safety on either platform. Alternatively, direct links to the filter are available (on mobile only) for Instagram here and on Facebook here.
