Fishtailing Caravan Sparks Road Safety Warning Ahead of Long Weekend

A harrowing video captured on a truck driver's dash cam in Western Australia's south has prompted authorities to issue a road safety warning ahead of a long weekend and school holidays. The footage shows a caravan towing a ute losing control and swerving off the road while overtaking a road train carrying grain on the Great Southern region.

The driver of the ute, towing a caravan, narrowly avoided disaster, and both drivers escaped unharmed. This incident occurs as thousands of people towing caravans take to regional roads across WA. According to Department of Transport figures, the number of registered caravans and motorhomes on WA roads has increased for five consecutive years.

Incorrect weight distribution a key concern

Authorities stress that incorrect weight distribution of caravans can cause them to swerve out of control.

Truck driver Natalie Spurr was traveling on Collie-Dumbleyung Road on Thursday morning when she recorded the incident on her dash cam. Ms. Spurr had picked up a load of grain from Lake Grace, 320 kilometers southeast of Perth, to be delivered to Wagin. During the trip, a vehicle towing a caravan began to overtake her truck before it started to fishtail as the driver lost control.

"He was already coming towards my trailers because he was already out of control," she said. "Then what's my next step? Do I go over the edge, or does he keep coming towards my trailers?"

"When I got out, I said, 'Mate, you nearly killed both of us.'"

Ms. Spurr reported that the ute driver was in shock but extremely apologetic.

Calls for extra care during school holidays

Three people have died in road incidents involving vehicles towing caravans or camper trailers in regional WA this year. Over the last decade, there have been 17 fatalities in WA involving vehicles towing caravans or camper trailers, with 16 of those occurring in regional areas.

As of July 2026, nearly 147,000 caravans and motorhomes were registered on WA roads, according to the Department of Transport. A Road Safety Commission spokesperson emphasized that long weekends and school holidays are particularly challenging times on the roads.

"Long weekends and school holidays are a particularly challenging time on our roads as they bring increased traffic on busy holiday routes, often on roads with higher speed limits where the most fatalities happen," they said. "If you're travelling long distances, slow down, take a break every two hours and share the drive if you can."

It is illegal for vehicles towing a caravan or trailer to exceed 100km/h.

Increased road presence

Albany Police officer in charge Carlos Correia stated that there would be a noticeable police presence on WA roads over the coming weeks.

"As we speak, we've got the breath and alcohol team from Perth in the Great Southern and will be here for the long weekend," he said. "We don't want to go to any serious or fatal accidents. We've got a lot of tourists and kids on holidays, so be careful out there."

"We are out there to do a job, and a part of that is making sure people take care and do the right thing."