Warning to Aussies after campervan driver fined $1,097 for 'unacceptable' road act

Aussies have been issued an urgent warning after a caravan driver was recently caught speeding 40 km/h over the speed limit, concerning authorities this behaviour could continue heading towards the school holidays as more people take off on camping trips.

The driver, 23, was travelling in a campervan with three other passengers and was speeding along the Hume Highway near Wagga Wagga in NSW. According to police, he was caught travelling 153 km/h along the 110 km/h road. When police pulled him over, they discovered he held an international UK driver's licence. He was issued a $1,097 fine and issued an immediate three-month licence suspension.

As summer approaches, there will likely be a spike in caravaners on Aussie roads. Driving a larger vehicle inherently increases the risk of speeding, lawyer Avinash Singh from Astor Legal told Yahoo News Australia, saying this incident would probably be "regarded as one of the most serious examples of speeding".

"The vehicle itself is a motor home and is not designed to travel at those speeds… the driver has not just put his own safety and other road users at risk, but also the three passengers who were in the vehicle," he said.

But one road safety expert told Yahoo speeding of any kind can be "catastrophic" and should be avoided — regardless of whether the vehicle being driven is a heavy caravan or not.

"It doesn't matter the size of vehicle or what they're pulling when it's speeding like that, I think that's the important message," Peter Khoury from NRMA said. "Heading into Christmas, this behaviour is unacceptable… 40 kilometres over the speed limit could have caused a catastrophic outcome for anyone involved in an accident at that speed. Good on the police for catching them."

While drivers towing a caravan are restricted to travelling at no more than 100km/h, such limitations do not extend to motorhomes or campervans.

Driver 'lucky' to get away with only fine and suspension

Singh called the driver "lucky" for only getting fined and having his licence suspended for three months, believing a court attendance could easily have been issued which would have increased the penalty.

"The fact the driver was on an international licence means they were likely less familiar with Australian road rules and so should have been more careful," she said, with Khoury sharing a similar sentiment.

"The road rules in the UK are basically the same as Australia… they shouldn’t be factored into the penalty," he said.

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Italian traveller avoids jail time after deadly campervan crash

The issue has made headlines recently. On Friday, an Italian man had his jail sentence suspended by a South Australian judge after killing three people in a crash in October, 2021.

Gabriele Cairo, 29, failed to give way while driving a campervan and colliding with a car. He had pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious harm by dangerous driving. Cairo's tourist visa, which had been extended for the trial, will now expire and he is free to return home.

Driver's licence change coming for internationals

The case highlighted by NSW Patrol officers on Friday also prompted many Aussies to bemoan the legal blind spots enjoyed by international drivers on our roads, with many suggesting the driver simply wouldn't pay the fine.

It comes as states and territories make changes to the requirements for international drivers looking to stay on our roads long term. Currently, overseas drivers are allowed on Australian roads with a valid licence. But those living here permanently must meet a certain criteria to switch their international licence to one issued by a local state or territory.

From April 30, 2025, international drivers from a number of countries will have to undertake further training and testing to receive an Australian licence. Previously designated as the Experienced Driver Recognition Status, drivers from countries such as South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan and Poland will soon need to complete domestic accreditation. However, drivers from most western countries including the US, UK, France, Canada and Italy will continue to be able to simply fill out paperwork to make the switch.

Earlier this year, NSW also made changes to close a "loophole" which meant international drivers could accrue endless demerit points while remaining on the road. It means foreign nationals still driving on their licence from their home country are required to transfer it more quickly to a local licence, putting them on the same demerits system.

Aussie road tolls continue to rise ahead of festive period

In NSW roads, the number of road fatalities in 2024 is already higher than this time last year at 308 deaths with 10,793 people being seriously injured – with speed playing a big factor in this.

In Victoria, the number of lives lost is marginally down compared to this time last year – with 256 Victorians losing their lives this year compared to 260 this time last year. However, across the country, the majority of the states and territories already track at hundreds of deaths on their roads so far this year, with Queensland at 241 and Western Australia at 162.

Speeding is a huge factor, with the risk of road collisions doubling with each 5km/h increase in speed on a 60 km/h speed limit road, according to the SA Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

When it comes to speeding, there is one simple message.

“Just don’t do it,” Khoury said.

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