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Caravans
being wrecked by truckies at a UK show |
Why are they regarded with so much
negativity?
In the mood for asking what's wrong with
caravans
By Dennis Amor
Have your say
THE long-running argy-bargy between
caravanners and truckies has again been highlighted ... but this time to
the soothing strains of Grieg's Morning Mood.
The classical piece features as the background music to a new 1min 34sec
video showing caravans being smashed to smithereens by huge trucks.
Diesel News carried a
link to the graphic footage on its website, proclaiming that the
trucking industry needed to say what was wrong with caravans.
It posed the question: "Why are they regarded with so much negativity by
truckies?"
The video ‒ shot in the UK ‒ was an example of some truckies' attitude
towards caravans, it said.
Caravans are not the cause of
the problem, it's the caravanner
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"The trucking industry's frustration with
caravans is being taken out on the caravans themselves, but not at the
cause of the problem.
"The cause, as we all know, is the caravanner. Actually, the problem is
some caravanners. We shouldn't forget campervans either, but for the sake
of simplicity we will lump them all under the title of caravanners."
It said many caravanners, especially grey nomads who populated more remote
roads, were aware of the need to be courteous and considerate to trucks
and their needs.
"Responsible caravan owners fit UHFs in their towing vehicles and will
talk to any truckie coming up behind them and help them pass."
It pointed out that trucks needed to be "maximising their speeds" to meet
schedules and to get paid.
"The case for the caravanner is exactly opposite, time is not of the
essence ... enjoying the landscape and having a relaxed ride is more
important."
RVs "tootling" along two-lane highways at 85kph but speeding up to 100kph
on overtaking lanes and preventing frustrated truckies from overtaking was
not helpful.
"It is a potent mix, truckies ‒ who have to get there quick and have
difficulty accelerating and overtaking cars ‒ meeting caravanners with a
wide vehicle taking their time.
"It's very easy for both sides of the argument get upset and do something
rash."
