Essential Road Safety Tips for the Upcoming Holiday Season

Holiday periods bring family, fun and travel for most Australians, however with it comes a busier and more dangerous time on Australian roads. Ahead of the upcoming holidays, we want to remind caravanners and campers to take extra precautions when travelling and avoid dangerous activities while driving such as speeding, mobile phone use and fatigue.

Check out our essential tips to drive safe and arrive safe these holidays.

Main Causes of Road Accidents During the Holidays

Speeding: Speeding reduces your reaction time and increases your risk of serious accident. Getting somewhere a few minutes slower, is better than not getting there at all. Slow down and enjoy safer travels.

Distraction: Consciously or unconsciously becoming distracted while driving can lead to a harmful incident. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb while driving and try minimise the risk of distraction from other passengers in the car.

Fatigue: Fatigue is a silent killer on Australian roads, especially during the holiday period. Road trips can be long and tiring, increasing your risk of error and reducing your reaction times. Take regular breaks, ideally 15 minutes every 2 hours and stop whenever you feel it is necessary.

Our Top Tips to Staying Safe on the Road

• Plan your trip: Ahead of your travel, plan out your journey appropriately. Plan regular rest stops, check where to re-fuel, estimate your total travel time and be prepared for emergencies.
• Avoid distraction: Ensure you have your directions, music and passengers (especially little ones) set-up before you set off and use Do Not Disturb mode on your phone while driving.
• Share driving duties: If travelling with another driver on long trips, consider sharing driving duties to reduce the risk of driver fatigue.
• Travelling interstate? Be familiar with local road rules before you travel.
• Never drink and drive: Staying alert is a crucial part of staying safe this holiday season.
• Share the road: Be mindful of other road users – pedestrians, cyclists, HGV drivers etc. It is everyone’s shared responsibility to keep our roads safe these holidays.

Road Safety Tips for Caravanners

Towing

• Know the towing capacity of your vehicle before you travel
• Check out our Towing Guide for essential towing knowledge and guidance
• Consider a towing course

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• Ensure you know how to load your van correctly
• Items should be stowed properly and weight distributed equally

Tyres/ Brakes/ Suspension

• Check your tyre pressure and condition pre-travel
• Make sure your brakes are in good working order
• Check your vehicle and van suspension after loading

Hitch and Connections

• Ensure your hitch is securely attached and all electrical connections are in working order

For more Caravanning Pre-Travel Safety, check out our Guide

Make road safety a priority for your family and friends when travelling and enjoy your greatest adventure yet!

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