A Queensland Police Service road safety initiative has had dramatic success in reducing the carnage on the state’s country roads.
The ‘Stay on Track Outback’ initiative was launched last August in response to the rising number of horrific crashes on rural roads … many of them involving grey nomads.
Sergeant Dominic Richardson from Tambo Police Station, in the Charleville Police District, saw the devastating consequences of many of these collisions first-hand, and was determined to reduce the carnage.
“I have seen a growth in the amount of vehicles travelling on the Landsborough Highway, and a noticeable growth in the amount of tourists sharing the roads in the cooler months,” he said. “Unfortunately, with the growth in tourists visiting outback Queensland I have also attended an increase in the number of traffic crashes involving tourists, particularly the ‘grey nomad’ caravan tourists.”
Police say tourists sharing the roads with heavy vehicles such as road trains, and coming across unpredictable elements such as wildlife and varying road conditions can be a recipe for disaster.
“Research indicated that many of the drivers involved in these traffic crash occurrences often have decades of driving experience in city and coastal conditions,” said Sergeant Richardson. “However, they have limited or nil experience with the driving conditions and hazards experienced when travelling long distances on outback highways and rural roads.”
Statistics show that during 2010 and 2011, Charleville police responded to a significant increase in the number of traffic crashes, including an almost 20% increase in injury and fatal traffic crashes.
However, since the launch of ‘Stay On Track Outback’, the figures show there has been an almost 25% reduction in all traffic crashes, a 20% reduction in injury traffic crashes, and nil fatal traffic crashes.
Sergeant Richardson is the Project Manager of ‘Stay On Track Outback’ and is obviously pleased that the message appears to be getting through … but he knows his job is not done.
‘Stay On Track Outback’ aims to raise driver safety awareness and reduce the number of rural road accidents by focusing attention on the unique driving conditions; the unique driving hazards and safe driving behaviours involved in sharing roads with heavy vehicles, oversize and wide loads, wildlife, livestock and other hazards; and driver inexperience on rural highways and remote roads, including limited towing experience for caravan and 4WD tourists.
For more details of the campaign, click here.
Have you been caught out by driving conditions in the Outback? Do you think caravanners should be required to take a towing course prior to taking the Big Lap? Comment below.
In response to the question “Should caravanners take a driving course” Yes they should no question. The handling differences between a sedan or 4×4 towing any sort of van make a course imperative.
By the same token if a road train cannot stay in their own lane ,the tail wagging out of their lane they should be taken off the road.
It is encumbent on any driver to remain in their lane and if the vehicle is unable to do that they should not be on the road, period.
We have the strange situation where you require a LIGHT TRUCK LICENSE to drive a rigid truck over 4.5 tonne, yet can drive a vehicle up to 4.49 tonne and tow a large heavy trailer/ van on a normal car license without any special training/ test of skills.
I get sick and tired of car drivers complaining about heavy vehicles. We all must realize that trucks and buses are speed limited making it very hard to pass other vehicles and as they are servicing clients with commercial restraints and they can get very frustrated when held up by drivers that do not understand the world of a professional driver.
When road trains are tested for swing it is on a road surface that is nice and flat, not the typical Australian B or C grade highway with the varying surface let alone outback gravel roads.
PS. Lets take all the heavy vehicle off the roads to make way for old farts and caravans. After they run out of food and fuel the roads should be much better.