Record number of caravan holidays
Aussies planning a caravan or camping holiday have been urged to take personal responsibility for their safety and others after it was revealed a record number are planning a summer holiday.
November sees Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s summer ‘Caravan & Camping Safety’ campaign launch– reminding Australians to focus on safety across the month before they hit the road.
With more than 840,000 registered RVs in Australia and camping holidays enjoying increased popularity, there will be a record number of Australians planning their trips for the summer holidays.
In the coming months, about 14 million nights and 4 million camping trips or more are expected to be taken across Australia.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stuart Lamont said: “Caravan and camping is a great activity enjoyed by many millions of Australians and in particular over the summer break. Importantly we want to see all those who go caravan and camping over the upcoming holidays, not only have a great time while at their destination, but also return home safely.”
Over the next month Caravan Industry Association of Australia will also be sharing road safety information regarding pre-planning your trip to manage fatigue, appropriate use of rest stops including truck rest areas, vehicle preparation, sharing the road with trucks, towing, caravan parks, shared spaces and pool safety will be promoted and shared. This information is relevant for all road users regardless of experience.
Research indicates:
- RV road users are most likely to have a crash on Monday or Sunday as drivers return from their holidays.
- Crashes are most likely to occur between 10am and 12pm.
- Whilst crashes are more likely to occur in urban centres, fatalities are more likely to occur on regional roads.
- Rear Ends are the most common reason for a crash (18%) followed by angle collision i.e. turning (14%) and losing control (13%)
- Over 330 Australian’s lost their lives in drowning incidents last year, with double that estimated to have suffered serious non-fatal drowning incidents
“Getting to your destination safely is only one part of the safety discussion. Caravan Parks across the country provide a safe, family friendly and exceptional holiday experience, however, with the number of campers choosing to spend their holidays in parks we’re reminding holidaymakers to remember the importance of pool safety and shared spaces within caravan holiday parks,” Mr Lamont said.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia has developed in partnership with other state caravan associations, professional service providers and other relevant bodies such as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Queensland Trucking Association, free to access consumer digital and print educational assets. This information will be presented using easy to digest videos, engaging online quizzes and written content across email, social media, and digital platforms. Each year tens of thousands of handbooks are distributed free of charge.
