Council workshops aiming to improve caravan safety for drivers

BALLINA Shire Council is hosting caravan safety workshops with the aim of providing practical support on loading, towing and other measures to help ease the burden on drivers.

Two sessions will be held at Ballina Surf Club on Thursday, March 26.

The workshops will provide information and demonstrations on the safe loading and towing of vehicles.

A Transport NSW spokesperson said that towing a caravan adds significant weight to vehicles, requiring careful planning and loading.

“There have been many recorded crashes involving towed caravans on NSW roads,” the spokesperson said.

“To lower your risk of being involved in a crash, make sure you know how to load and weigh your caravan, and drive safely while towing one.

“Non-compliance can affect your insurance cover and may result in fines.”

The workshops will also cover other requirements where people will have the chance to ask about smoke alarms and safety equipment.

Caravans and campervans typically have limited escape options in the event of a fire, along with lightweight and combustible fittings.

By law, caravans in NSW must have at least one working alarm inside the van near the bed, and another in the annex if it is used as a sleeping area.

Safety measures include testing the alarm before each trip and once a week while in use.

Drivers can pre-plan for being out of mobile range by downloading the Emergency+ app for responders to access locations by GPS phone data.

“Whether you are an experienced caravan tower or new to the game, come along and hear from the experts, get some great tips and have your questions answered,” the council’s road safety officer Helen Carpenter said.

To register for one of the workshops visit events.humanitix.com/free-caravan-safety-workshop