Company offers 2,500 free copies across WA to educate caravaners on road trains
Transport and logistics company Centurion will distribute more than 2,500 cards to regional service stations and caravan parks to help educate tourists about safe driving near heavy vehicles.
The Western Australia-based company has urged tourists driving north during the winter to be mindful of road trains and wide loads, saying there are always some drivers who do not know how to handle themselves around road trains.
The move follows a recent company survey that revealed more than 80 per cent of drivers had witnessed or experienced a close call between a road train and caravan in the past two years, with 20 per cent saying they had witnessed more than two.
Centurion general manager of HSEQ safety Luke Beeston says the company aims to lift public awareness of the issues confronting truck drivers.
“We want other road users to understand the hazards and demonstrate the same safe practices to ensure we all arrive at our destination safely,” Beeston says.
“The key is for everyone to be educated as to safe behaviours. That way the risk of an incident and injury can be averted.”
The company’s eight tips for overtaking a road train are as follows:
1. Keep your lights on so you can be clearly seen, especially in dusty or overcast conditions.
2. Be patient. Passing a road train can take as long as 60 seconds. Make sure you have maximum visibility and nothing is coming in the other direction.
3. Position your vehicle so you can see any oncoming traffic and so the road train driver can see you.
4. If you want to pass, keep your right hand blinker on to let the truckie know.
5. Use your UHF radio to call through on Channel 40. Identify the truck and the direction and ask if it is clear to pass.
6. When it’s clear accelerate at a safe and consistent speed and pass.
7. Be aware of your speed when you’ve completed your overtaking manoeuvre. Road trains need plenty of room to come to a stop.
8. Be aware of everyone around you and remember it’s always good to acknowledge when people do the right things with a wave and a smile.
Centurion’s tips for responsible driving when being overtaken are:
1. If you’re travelling close together with other caravans leave at least 100 metres between you and the caravan in front. Truck drivers need room to pull in after their overtaking manoeuvre.
2. If you are about to be overtaken by a road train maintain a consistent speed, don’t break or slowdown, and definitely don’t speed up.
3. Road trains can be over 50 metres so let the driver know when he can pull in after his overtaking manoeuvre with a flash of your headlights.
4. It’s about everyone doing the right thing on our roads. By understanding what to do, being patient and being courteous we’ll all arrive at our destination safely.