Interstate visitors escaping the cooler weather are driving a spike in accidents involving caravans, with claims almost doubling during the winter period, according to new data from Suncorp.
Suncorp Spokesperson Alexandra Foley said throughout the winter months Queensland had the highest number of caravan claims in the country, with August the worst month for accidents.
“As grey nomads and seasonal travellers start packing their caravans to begin the annual migration north, it’s a timely reminder for drivers to take extra care on the roads,” Ms Foley said.
“Unfortunately, we see a significant spike in caravan claims in Queensland as the temperature drops and most of these could be avoided.”
Suncorp analysed over 14,000 caravan accident insurance claims across Australia, from its network of brands including Suncorp, CIL, Apia, AAMI and GIO.
According to the data, accidents involving caravans typically spike in winter in Queensland, while significantly decreasing in Victoria.
Caravans colliding with a stationary object were the most common type of accident, accounting for more than a quarter of all claims.
“This indicates that many drivers probably lack experience in towing and manoeuvring a caravan,” Ms Foley said.
“In many cases, drivers can avoid these types of accidents and improve their visibility by having a spotter outside the car, installing cameras on the rear of the caravan, or additional mirrors to assist when driving and parking.
“This is especially important for inexperienced drivers because towing a caravan is a very different driving experience. Bad driving habits such as inattention, speeding or following too closely behind other vehicles are amplified and can have dire consequences.
“We would urge anyone planning a caravan holiday to take extra care on the roads this year. Make sure your vehicle and caravan are in good working order, adhere to speed limits, be courteous to other drivers and also check your insurance policy is up to date and provides an adequate level of cover before you leave home.”
