Have
your say
AUSSIE caravanners have breathed a sigh of relief after moves to
introduce compulsory RV safety checks in Britain were scrapped.
Had the EU plan gone ahead, they claimed it would have been only a matter
of time before similar laws imposing the annual roadworthiness checks on
caravans and light trailers were initiated Down Under.
"There's no doubt about it," Queensland grey nomad Bob Astle told
Caravanning News. "There have been several pushes for this to happen
over the years but thankfully were rejected by the powers that be."
And caravanner Adrian Furlonger commented: "I think Australian RV owners
are a responsible lot and keep their vehicles well maintained.
"Most caravans do very little mileage anyway ... perhaps one or two trips
a year."
Caravan Council of Australia founder and general manager Colin Young
believed it would be "unwarranted overkill" to have annual roadworthy
inspections for caravans and camper-trailers.
"Government money would be much more beneficially spent on conducting a
national caravanner education program," he said.
"This could concentrate on inspecting a caravan's critical basic items,
understanding ratings and masses and how to properly load a 'van ...
checking the total mass and ball-loading on a certified weighbridge."
Mr Young said he possessed a Road Worthy Licence but did not see the need
for annual roadworthy inspections on normal low mileage cars, 4WDs and
caravans.
"A RWC ‒ along with a Gas Certificate and an Electrical Certificate ‒
should be required for 'van which has been unregistered for maybe five to
10 years.
"Maybe also when caravans older than say five years are bought and sold,"
he added.
The Australian Caravan Club said it had no policy or position on
introducing annual roadworthy checks because it had never been discussed
by the club.
"However, it has been actively lobbying the NSW Government ‒ the only
State that currently has these checks ‒ to make it easier for members
travelling interstate to get their registration renewed," a Board
statement said.
"Currently it's quite a headache and our members find it's a problem to
get the roadworthy done in another state and then get this recognised by
the NSW Transport authorities.
"So far our lobbying efforts have been in vain."
