Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 01:03
SPEED LIMITS
There’s every chance confusion reigns when it comes to what’s what with our speed limits.
The major caravan and camping industry associations have collaborated to produce the National Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide to help clear up much of the confusion shared by the owners of around 400,000 registered caravans, campers and tent trailers.
However, a DVD recently released by Tow-Ed, a private firm offering driver education in most states and territories, is also a useful guide. The Australian Practical Guide to Towing is very worthwhile.
As with any regulations, speed limits don’t commandeer the driver’s common sense. They are always maximum speeds under ideal conditions, but towing is not considered an ideal condition. Nonetheless, drivers towing caravans generally must conform to regulatory speed signs. But there are some exceptions.
“NSW road rules set a maximum speed of 100km/h for a tow vehicle and caravan with a combined weight of more than 4500kg,” NSW Road Transport Authority’s Joanne Box said. As a matter of fact, this is the case nationally.
According to Qld’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR), towing requires additional driving skills and safety precautions, so drivers must drive to suit the conditions. The DTMR covers its concerns in A Safe Towing Information Booklet, available on its website.
WA goes beyond the national regulations. Out west, the maximum speed limit is either 100km/h or the posted limited, whichever is less – the weight of the caravan doesn’t matter.
The National Transport Commission’s Australian Road Rules offer another reason to watch your speed, specifying that a vehicle (or combination) longer than 7.5m (24ft 7in) must not travel closer than 60m to another vehicle, or no closer than 200m outside of built-up areas.
In terms of non-built-up areas, governments may recommend caravanners avoid towing in rough-road places like the Kimberley, but the choice is yours as long as you stay safe. The same goes for anywhere across the nation where you find roads not recommended for caravans – regardless of speed limits.
In addition, the Australian Road Rules advise that if the posted limit is more than 100km/h, and the vehicle and trailer have a combined Gross Vehicle Mass of more than 5000kg, the maximum speed limit remains 100km/h.
The upshot of all this is that travelling at less than 100km/h is not a bad policy. It saves lives – and fuel.
http://www.caravanworld.com.au/latest-reviews/article/articleid/79178.aspx
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