The holiday season brings with it an increase of people (and their vans) on the road, but it is also the most dangerous time of year to be travelling.
As Australians prepare to hit the road for the much-anticipated summer holidays, caravanning is once again set to take centre stage. Whether it’s families escaping to coastal campsites or grey nomads exploring the vast outback, caravanning offers a unique way to experience the best of Australia. However, the summer holidays also bring with them a sobering reality: this is the most dangerous time of year for motorists.
The statistics are concerning. According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the period between November and January sees an approximate 10 per cent increase in road fatalities compared to other times of the year. In 2023, 120 lives were lost on Australian roads in December, with rural and regional roads accounting for the majority of these tragedies.
The spike in traffic during the holiday period is well-known. But what often goes unnoticed is how the increased presence of vehicles towing caravans, trailers and boats creates additional challenges for road safety for all road users. It’s a reality that we, as the industry’s peak body, are deeply aware of.
While the idea of mandatory towing licences has gained traction in some circles, we believe this measure merely adds increased cost and bureaucracy for little or no gain in the end desired outcome. More importantly, it does not address one core issue: the lack of practical towing education.
Licensing schemes tend to create a one-size-fits-all solution to a complex problem. The reality is that towing safety is more about skill and experience than about passing a test. We all have a licence to drive a car, and the road death toll is rising — the government can’t simply regulate its way into a solution. It’s about understanding how to manage the unique challenges of towing a caravan in different weather and road conditions, something that a simple licensing process can’t fully teach.
Instead of imposing restrictive and ineffective measures, we fully support a more sensible and pragmatic solution: one of better and more affordable education. Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has been advocating for some time for subsidised towing courses, making them accessible to more Australians. These courses would focus specifically on essential skills such as tow vehicle handling, weight distribution of heavy loads, braking techniques and managing fatigue when travelling long distances such as on a road trip. Practical, hands-on experience is far more valuable than a piece of paper or a sticker that says you’ve completed a one-hour supervised driving exam.
The holiday season is the perfect time to raise awareness about these educational initiatives. By offering subsidised courses ahead of the busy summer period, we can better equip drivers with additional skills which assist in navigating holiday traffic (not to mention within the campground or caravan park) safely and with confidence. This proactive approach will have a far greater impact on road safety than a mandatory licence ever could.
Beyond education, we are calling for a National Safe Towing Campaign as part of the broader National Road Safety Strategy. This campaign would focus on raising awareness of the risks associated with towing during peak travel periods like the summer holidays. We believe a combination of public service announcements, digital outreach and partnerships with driving schools can effectively better educate all motorists on how to tow safely and to share the road.
In addition, we are advocating for free caravan safety check-up days in the lead-up to the Christmas holiday period and Easter — two of the busiest times for caravanners. These check-ups would allow drivers to have their caravans inspected for weight compliance, braking performance and general roadworthiness before hitting the road. This initiative would go a long way in preventing road accidents caused by poorly maintained or improperly loaded vehicles.
As an industry, we understand that road safety is a shared responsibility. Internally we have a saying — one caravan accident is one caravan accident too many — and we are committed to working with government, road safety organisations and the caravanning community to ensure that our roads are safer for everyone, especially during the summer holiday season. But this can only happen if we focus on the right solutions.
As we head into the summer holidays, I urge all Australians who plan to tow caravans to take the necessary steps to prepare. Whether it’s participating in a towing course, getting a safety check-up, or simply planning your journey carefully, let’s ensure this summer is full of great adventures and long-lasting memories. Make sure you have a good night’s sleep, take 15-minute breaks every two hours and plan your stops ahead of time (add rest stops, parks and so on to your route itinterary).
CIAA remains committed to supporting the caravanning community, and we will continue to advocate for policies that prioritise education and safety without unnecessarily burdening our sector. Safe travels this summer, and we look forward to seeing you on the road.
For more information, head here.
Stuart Lamont
Chief Executive Officer
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To learn more about safe towing practices and a refresher on all the caravan weight terminology (gross combination mass, tare mass, aggregate trailer mass) and so on, check out these articles:
Caravan safety 101: 10 tips for safer driving
Tow safe, tow smart | How to tow your caravan safely
CIAA advice on safe towing this holiday season