We get similar problems here but they generally occur in the desert. A couple of years ago 2 European tourists headed off into the bush, during summer, on a little used track in a Toyota Troopy campervan. They got bogged in sand and couldn't get it out. He stayed with the van which had 40litres of water, shade, food etc. She decided to walk for help. He was found alive and well she died not very far from where she started. This was a case of people who didn't understand the conditions and didn't listen to the advice that was given before they headed out. This is not an isolated incident, there have been heaps of people who have perished in the same circumstances purely because they did not listen to advice and did not prepare themselves for the areas they were heading into.
I have even come across some local aboriginal people in Arnhem Land whos car had broken down and they had no water, no food and had a very tiny baby. It was summer and there had been no rain for ages, and there was no local water for miles. We gave them a heap of water and helped fix their car. I suppose familiarity can breed contempt.

I believe that a lot of the campervan hire companies are now fitting EPIRBs to the vehicles for use in case of disaster, and they are sitting customers down and giving them a lecture about safety before letting them drive away from the shop.