There was a bit about this on the ABC news last night, filmed near Charleville. They showed a couple of wrecks, can see why they are doing this.
I can as well, on a recent trip to Darwin we saw three caravans wiped out, and the number of poorly loaded vans we saw heading toward us half out of control would make you shudder, I was told that because of this problem the NT govt a setting up weigh bridges targetting overloaded and poorly loaded vans, seems this along with poor driving skills and inexperience is a major problem up there.
We were pulling into Alice Springs when we heard another van tow vehicle had lost control while passing a road train resulting in a fatality
Why oh why do caravaners find it nescessary to overtake road trains travelling at 100 or more kmph, we saw it happen time and again, the truckies reckon they are idiots, half way past, a wheel in the dirt and its game over.
-- Edited by Santa on Monday 3rd of September 2012 12:32:47 PM
rockylizard said
04:19 PM Sep 3, 2012
Gday...
I am fairly confident this news story has been aired before but it seems the police have decided to get up-to-date coverage. In case ya missed it the first time around - here tis agen
Police have been running this campaign for many years now , A retired police officer SG Sheffer- Steele started this program , He would go to the local Caravan and give talks to Grey nomads about towing tips , Since his retirement the program had lapsed and now has been revived by a fellow officer.
jules47 said
05:30 PM Sep 3, 2012
It is a great idea - but some people need to understand weights when they are towing - you can't just load a van up, with everything you have at home - I think a lot of problems stem from overloading - i.e. two bikes, tool box, satellite dish, etc., etc., on the back of a van!!!!! I really don't know what they put in some of these toolboxes - we live full time in the motor home, and the only external we have is our two bikes on the back, and a pipe with the fishing rods in it. Everything else either underneath or inside!
mr glassies said
06:28 PM Sep 3, 2012
this is 1 reason i bought a jockey wheel with scales in them
dibs
-- Edited by mr glassies on Monday 3rd of September 2012 06:37:45 PM
Gerty Dancer said
06:32 PM Sep 3, 2012
There was a bit about this on the ABC news last night, filmed near Charleville. They showed a couple of wrecks, can see why they are doing this.
Cupie said
09:30 PM Sep 3, 2012
brickies wrote:
Police have been running this campaign for many years now , A retired police officer SG Sheffer- Steele started this program , He would go to the local Caravan and give talks to Grey nomads about towing tips , Since his retirement the program had lapsed and now has been revived by a fellow officer.
That jogs the memory. I recall an address on the subject at a CP at, I think, Charleville several years ago.
I can as well, on a recent trip to Darwin we saw three caravans wiped out, and the number of poorly loaded vans we saw heading toward us half out of control would make you shudder, I was told that because of this problem the NT govt a setting up weigh bridges targetting overloaded and poorly loaded vans, seems this along with poor driving skills and inexperience is a major problem up there.
We were pulling into Alice Springs when we heard another van tow vehicle had lost control while passing a road train resulting in a fatality
Why oh why do caravaners find it nescessary to overtake road trains travelling at 100 or more kmph, we saw it happen time and again, the truckies reckon they are idiots, half way past, a wheel in the dirt and its game over.
-- Edited by Santa on Monday 3rd of September 2012 12:32:47 PM
Gday...
I am fairly confident this news story has been aired before but it seems the police have decided to get up-to-date coverage. In case ya missed it the first time around - here tis agen
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-03/road-safety-campaign-targets-grey-nomads/4235658
Please all be careful.
Cheers - John
this is 1 reason i bought a jockey wheel with scales in them
dibs
-- Edited by mr glassies on Monday 3rd of September 2012 06:37:45 PM
That jogs the memory. I recall an address on the subject at a CP at, I think, Charleville several years ago.