This is why I love my job so much, happy customers who are keen to share their travel stories and just simply looooved the pure Oz experience – and not only the shiny parts but also the unfortunate bits and pieces of a journey in an old van- and I am not talking about severe mechanical break downs but the little, almost foreseen ‘normal’ problems that can occur on such a long trip through the outback and all around Australia. Read on where Vanessa travelled and get inspired by her travel story.

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN……….

If you want to take a fatalistic approach to accidents in the belief that ; ‘Sh*t happens, so why worry, what will be will be’

then please read on

According to our stats* a staggering 87%% of serious accidents that are referred to the insurance company are due to DRIVER ERROR!!

87%% of serious accidents due to DRIVER ERROR!!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE we are begging you for your own safety PLEASE TAKE IT EASY.

We desperately want you to have a safe and wonderful trip around Australia.

Please remember that when you get behind the wheel of any car you are taking on a great responsibility with respect to the safety of everyone in the car under your control and other road users.

3 people survived this roll-over with just minor scratches and bruises

CLASSIC SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT – DAYLIGHT,STRAIGHT ROAD– Lucky no-one was killed!

Consider these stats

• Head on collision -14%
• Failure to Stop at Right of Way – 27%
• Lost Control – 8%
• Run up Rear – 11%
• Single Vehicle Accident – 27%

Head on Collision – commonly due to Driver’s falling asleep at the wheel

Failure to Stop at Right of Way – Or driving through a stop sign or give way sign – Commonly due to Driver not paying attention

Lost Control – Commonly due to speed, failure to negotiate a bend, wet roads, or drifting to the left and when left wheels hit the soft edge the driver over corrects and starts to fish tail resulting in a roll-over

 Run up rear – Possibly the dumbest ‘accident of all time

Single Vehicle Accident – Usually a ROLL-OVER due to Driver losing control of the vehicle. – Hitting or Swerving to miss an animal, When passing on a narrow road and driver puts left wheels on soft shoulder (verge), over-correcting, and rolling the car, speed, wet roads and going into corners just that little bit too fast

It’s not just your health and well-being at stake! Unfortunately in many of the accidents above the Renters holidays were ruined and many also incurred MAJOR FINANCIAL LOSS – Please understand that the damage liability you have with the vehicle will NOT COVER YOU in EVERY CASE (Negligence, SVA’s, Drink Driving, Breaching Rental Agreement, Breaking the law, etc)

Other Stats

Most accidents happen around 10-11am (29%) and 3-8pm (39%)

And

18-21 year olds are responsible for 39% of all accidents!!!!!

PLEASE HAVE FUN BUT CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL WELL BEING AND DRIVE WITHIN YOUR LIMITS AND DRIVE CAREFULLY

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!

Just a quick reminder for the Aussie Summer.

DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS

I have just been checking out a few more blog stories for our lovely Travellers Autobarn customers and whilst I was listening to Michael Buble’s Christmas album on youtube (Yes, I do admit, I like Michael and I like Christmas, c’mon judge me I am prepared!), I found the following blog on gapyear by Marcus Sherifi and I must say, these items are well chosen and should not be missing in your next backpack.

Christmas is just around the corner so check out the following essential travel items (you can directly forward this blog to Santa, my advice: no time – wasting, you never know how busy Santa will be this year!!).

Wherever you’re going on your gap year, it always pays to be prepared, so here are our 20 travel essentials for Xmas.

We are happy to finally announce the PARTNERS of our newly branded Drive Guide that every rental and sales customer receives at pick-up and which will get launched within the next 2 – 3 weeks.

The Drive Guide illustrates information about our vehicles, toll roads in Australia, campervanning in general, instructions on how to proceed in case of an accident and it also contains heaps of thrilling activity discounts with our preferred suppliers all around Australia !!! It is designed to maximize your enjoyment of your car, the country and your time in Australia. We’ve asked our branch managers for their tips and advice on how to care for your car, what to do if you have any difficulties and managed to score some great discounts for our customers too so that you can soak up the freedom of the open road and feel the spirit of the ancient land and youthfulness of the nation it has become.