Distance between towing vehicles

JoeJan · Veteran Member

Distance between towing vehicles

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Atleast 3 seconds behind . When the vehicle in front passes an object . You pass it 3 seconds latter . So the faster, the larger the gap ..

patrol03 · Senior Member

Most of the road rules are national and the 60m rule for heavy vehicles and multi wheel vehicles seems consistent in most states.WA may vary. I would suggest 100m between caravans would be safer if not more considerate to those who wish to pass.Travelling in convoy may be fun for some but for me I prefer to travel solo and do my own thing.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

It seems to be the law for NSW -

http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2014104/s127.html

and for Victoria - click here and go to Page 155 Item 127

and for Queensland - click here and scroll to the heading

and for South Australia - click here and go to Item 127

and all I could find on West Australia - click here

and Northern Territory - click here Heavy Vehicle Driver's handbook Page 28

and for ACT - Click here and go to Item 127

and for Tasmania - click here and go to Item 127

Pretty clear cut it seems.

Cheers - John

vince56 · Senior Member

Rockylizard,
Thanks for posting that precise info, it will settle a few arguments around my way.
Cheers Vince

RustyD · Guru

One of my pet hates is caravaners travelling close together in convoy way below the speed limit (80 in a 100 zone), letting everyone they are together. The convoy is too long to tackle all at once and the gaps between are not big enough to pull in with a car, let alone a car & van.

penny1 · Member

Good point, RustyD. Not only cars and cars towing, but trucks cannot pass a 'convoy'. Sticking so close together doesn't make for good relationships with other road users. Also, if they reach their destination 1 kilometre or a couple of minutes behind the others does it really matter?

JoeJan · Veteran Member

Thanks for the replies they are a great help. Just interested in getting it right when I head interstate.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safety-rules/safe-driving/low-risk-driving.html

rockylizard · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safety-rules/safe-driving/low-risk-driving.html

Gday...

I think you will find that link is to 'low-risk driving' for cars - as distinct from 'long vehicles' eg over 7.5metres

This link, from my earlier post, applies to the requirements for long vehicle over 7.5 metres - http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2014104/s127.html

Cheers - John

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Still very hard to guess just by distance . Most will be way under weight .Compared to vehicles in that link . Car and van etc .

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

The "3-second rule" is pertinent and quite probably as good as, or maybe better, than pure judgement.

This link gives a good explanation of its application -

"At 90 kmh, once braking starts, it takes 42 metres to come to a complete stop. This encompasses approximately 3.1 seconds. So from perceiving a braking situation to stopping, takes 4.6 seconds during which time the car travels over 82 metres, which is almost the length of a football field."

http://roadrules.ca/content/how-long-does-it-take-stop

However, it does need to be understood, that this explanation of the "3-second rule" application does not take into consideration the affect of the vehicle towing 3Tonne. It could be safely assumed that it would take more than 82metres to stop a vehicle and van travelling at 90Kph.

Cheers - John

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

yep youâll find inmost cases people are traveling way closer than they should. Obviously you go by a 4 second rule if required . I use 3+ seconds all the time to check distance . At times Iâm too close . Just to keep an observation on things . Btw i drive a 8m motorhome 7.2 ton .

Its easy to see, therefore, why following too closely invites trouble. If a too closely followed car slows down or stops suddenly there is simply not enough time and space for the following car to avoid a collision. To regulate your following distance, a good rule of the thumb to apply is the "3-second rule." When the vehicle ahead of you passes a certain point, such as a sign, count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three. This takes about 3 seconds. If you pass the same point before you finish counting, you are following too closely. Driving in rain or snow, add a second or two to this rule.

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Thursday 15th of March 2018 11:54:48 PM

Delta18 · Guru

I personally don't adhere to the 3 -5 - 7 second whatever rule.

When on the odd times we travel with someone else it is more like a 2 - 3 km rule.

I have a uhf, my friends all have uhf, if the leader decides to turn off, pull into a parking bay whatever a few choice words lets the follower know.

Nothing worse than driving along just seeing the back of the van in front for 10's to 100's of km.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

The semi trucks I have encountered on Nullarbor do just that with UHF radio . If they are turning off ? Or slowing down . They call you on radio they are turning off . Or ask if you want to pass ? So they slow down a few kph . I was more than happy to follow from distance . Less chance of Roo damage ., The way they used the UHF should be everywhere . Especially up north / WA the roads up there ? Sheesh .

RustyD · Guru

I think too many people rely on their brakes these days. Don't leave enough room for error. Leave it a lot later to break than when I was younger. My first driving experiences were in cars with crappy old drum brakes & ever worse tyres. Brakes & tyres have improved dramatically. I saw a good TV show a few years ago (original Top Gear?) where one of the presenters was showing off an old Morris Minor. One comment was that the handling and stopping was rubbish but that it was really too slow to get into too much trouble. The presenter reckons ever driver should experience driving a post WW2 to late 1950's car from a braking point of view.

chooknphil · Veteran Member

In WA minimum distance behind another caravan or truck is 200metres unless overtaking that vehicle but it is not widely advertised or known I found it while researching another item. Cheers phil

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

200m in 40 kph zone ? Ahahaha

silanah · Member

Not in the 40 zone but yes, outside "built up areas" in WA.

"When towing a trailer or caravan the maximum speed at which you may tow is 100 kilometres per hour. You must of course obey the posted speed limits.

Following distances outside built-up areas - On roads outside a built-up area that do not have more than one lane in the direction you are driving, there are specific minimum following distances for long vehicles. If your vehicle is 7.5m long or longer (including any trailer and load) you may not follow closer than 200m to a similar vehicle in front of you. The exception is when you are overtaking."

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Thatâs the issue . Most DONT know or judge 200m or whatever distance . . Why this rule . In seconds is used . A larger or heavy vehicle the driver should adjust to conditions . 15 - 20 years ago we did a test with RTA . A heap of truck drivers . A very low percentage got the distances right . Mind you ??? You should know when your too close !!! But then thereâs drivers who travel to the other side of the country and cannot reverse into parking spot !! God help us !! Lol

rockylizard · Guru

silanah wrote:
Not in the 40 zone but yes, outside "built up areas" in WA.
"When towing a trailer or caravan the maximum speed at which you may tow is 100 kilometres per hour. You must of course obey the posted speed limits.
Following distances outside built-up areas - On roads outside a built-up area that do not have more than one lane in the direction you are driving, there are specific minimum following distances for long vehicles. If your vehicle is 7.5m long or longer (including any trailer and load) you may not follow closer than 200m to a similar vehicle in front of you. The exception is when you are overtaking."

Gday...

Good to see some info on the WA regulations, I had been unable to locate anything specific.

This is all I can now find -

https://rsc.wa.gov.au/Rules-Penalties

Which shows -

WA Distance 01.JPG

If I try, I guess, by interpretation, the 60m 'law' refers to any driver of ANOTHER 'long vehicle'- eg caravan, light truck, semi. So this 'ANOTHER' driver must not be closer than 60m to any other caravan, truck, semi.

Consequently, the 200m 'law' refers to any driver of ANOTHER 'long vehicle' - eg caravan, light truck, semi - who must not be closer than 200m to a b-double or road train.

Therefore, when towing a caravan and one comes up behind another caravan, light truck or semi, then one must maintain 60m unless overtaking.

Equally, when towing a caravan and one comes up behind a b-double or road-train then one must maintain 200m unless overtaking.

That information above seems to be a little contradictory to this "IB-107B Vehicle Safety and Standards Information Bulletin Safe Towing"

https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/licensing/LBU_VS_IB_107.pdf

WA Distance 02.JPG

Is there anyone who may reside in WA who could obtain some clarification to the law/regulation please.

I would also suggest that some link to the source of that information would be valuable.

cheers - John

rockylizard · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Thatâs the issue . Most DONT know or judge 200m or whatever distance . . Why this rule . In seconds is used . A larger or heavy vehicle the driver should adjust to conditions . 15 - 20 years ago we did a test with RTA . A heap of truck drivers . A very low percentage got the distances right . Mind you ??? You should know when your too close !!! But then thereâs drivers who travel to the other side of the country and cannot reverse into parking spot !! God help us !! Lol

Gday...

AK, I really doubt the '3-second rule' would of much benefit if needing to maintain a distance of 200metres behind a b-double/road-train.

This calculation shows about 8 seconds would be more representative -

https://www.timecalculator.net/speed-distance-time-calculator

Stopping distance 03.JPG

Cheers - John

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Then use 8 seconds . Whatever ? If you count in traffic ? Most the time youâll find your too close .. When HWP book people . They are Actually tailgating !! We are not driving B Doubleâs .