I was caught up in a road block by Police just east of Sims Gap in NSW on Monday.
Further investigation revealed a small motorhome lying on the highway on the driver's side. I don't know if anyone was hurt, or worse, but all emergency services attended.
I concluded only speed could have caused this event. The vehicle obviously left the bitumen, and was pulled back on to the black top, causing the vehicle to slew around and over, and then proceeded to slide another 100 metres on its side, to face the way it came, on the wrong side of the road. The signs of paint and metal particles embedded onto the road, showed the whole event.
Do not ever out-drive the conditions, the capability of the vehicle or the capability of the driver.
On a recent job to the NE of SA the truck driver blasted me because I didn't advise him of a corner in the road. Yes, a bend in the road. He told me he almost crashed because he was driving at 80 KPH, because he could, when he should have been going much slower with a D9 on the float at the back. I told him he must always driver according to conditions, and it wasn't compulsory to drive at 80 KPH because he can.
He wasn't a good bush driver where there are no white posts, no signs, and the conditions of the road surface change with no warning.
Always, always please drive to conditions - road conditions and your vehicle and driving ability.
briche said
09:43 PM Sep 5, 2012
Thanks for those words,. I don't know how many times we've had people try and pass us on a road that was at best 80 Kms but the road is signed 100 Kms. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that driving to the conditions and your ability is the bottom line no matter what the signs say. So many people just don't understand that the speed sign is the limit not the speed that you must travel at. While I'm the site i must tell of a stupid driving stunt pulled by a guy pulling a van this morning as we were in Cairns. He came up behind a tractor that was approaching a bridge and as you expect double lines as well and decieded that he was not going to wait so just pulled out, passed the tractor, over the double white lines and then found himself stranded on the wrong side of the road with traffic approaching the bridge. With nowhere to go he just cutoff the tractor getting back onto his right side and had his caravan lightly clipped by the tractor. The best is yet to come, he then proceeded to shake his fist at the tractor driver who could do nothing but try and stop. We were about 3 car lengths back and standing on brakes not wanting to be part of it all. The sad bit is that the caravan driver was at the total cause of what have been a major accident on this bridge. It just amazes me to see people who pull vans that just don't understand the whole dynamic of the place they are at in their place on the road. PLEASE drive to the conditions and drive to maintain the control of your rig.
Brian
Cruising Granny said
10:08 PM Sep 5, 2012
"Well, we've invested in this beautiful caravan as our pride and joy, and made the decision to buy the best 4WD so we are now king of the road, and we have every right to tow it wherever we like." That seems to be the attitude. There is also a huge tendency in society these days, to blame someone, anyone for the results of our poor decisions. It was my fault the young fellow nearly crashed the truck because he decided to drive too fast around the corner on bulldust. It was the tractor driver's fault because he got in the way of this caravan and tug - the pride and joy. They are out there, and it's up to us to be aware and prepared for just about anything.
Gerty Dancer said
12:16 AM Sep 6, 2012
Its a worry Chris. I agree with you, but you cant legislate for common sense. Goodness knows they've tried over the years, with seatbelts being mandatory and helmets on bikes. (seatbelts are only optional in the US, it would invade their "freedoms" too much to make it mandatory!) I really think there should be a special license for towing.
Did you hear anything about the occupants of the motorhome? Doesnt sound good.
KFT said
12:19 AM Sep 6, 2012
Good advice from all. but you are preaching to the considerate few who bother to join a forum like this one and learn something.
There are approx 350,000 registered RV's in australia and growing by 20,000 per year.
That must leave a helluva lot who are not members of forums(fora?) and where do they get their education about caravanning/motorhoming/campertrailering from?
Then of course as an experienced driver you know to keep a sharp eye out for the idiots with licences that you witness every day on the highway.
HOW do we get the message out there? a question I do not have an answer for.
thanks for posting this CG
frank
Cruising Granny said
02:32 AM Sep 6, 2012
I am writing articles for publication in the caravan and 4WD magazines, and on forums ("fora") such as this about these very issues. I tow a large caravan, well 20ft, and I'm in the transport industry on the road in most states. I also once was a courier driver in the city. The more we are on the road, the more exposure to these arrogant idiots operating a motor vehicle. There are also more opportunities to learn about the characters using the roads and how they are likely to behave. It's up to all of us to discuss these issues at every opportunity, up to the point where you become tedious and boring. Those happy hours around the camp are your time to bring it up and discuss it among your travelling peers. I had a discussion with the truck driver about my job. He was adamant about his perception, and not the person to argue with, but unfortunately he was wrong, or at the very least, mislead and misunderstood the role of pilot driver in relation to escorting big loads. Hopefully the magazines will see the sense in publishing my stuff. I can only do my best, and if using my journalistic experience is my way of doing that, that's what I'll do. You can all do it in your own way, in your travels. Discuss, discuss, discuss.
KFT said
03:20 AM Sep 6, 2012
Good on you CG, I wish I had the ability to put words together like you do. I wish you lots of luck with your efforts.
I do manage most times to drop the "I am a forum member and I have learnt lots from the other members" line but I don't have any clue whether I am making a difference or not. I can only hope I am.
Do the magazines sell as many copies as there are forum members? It would be interesting to see a comparison.
I was absolutely amazed at the number of caravanners on the road with NO BLODDY MIRRORS(I usually look for a camera too). So they did not have a clue what was happening behind and you usually saw a line of traffic behind them waiting for an overtaking lane. I should drop a line to traffic branch to have a look at some enforcement in that area as that may be the only way to "educate" some.
travel safe
frank
Sheba said
03:56 AM Sep 6, 2012
KFT wrote:
.
I was absolutely amazed at the number of caravanners on the road with NO BLODDY MIRRORS(I usually look for a camera too).
frank
Isn't that illegal in all States ?
Cheers,
Sheba.
Cruising Granny said
04:12 AM Sep 6, 2012
It appears no one is looking. It is illegal, but for some reason it has escaped the law managers. Cameras can be helpful but the field of vision is too small and the perspective is not accurate enough. It is handy but mirrors are essential. It just adds to the attitude of arrogance. Hands on the wheel, nose in the air, totally oblivious of other road users. It frustrates the hell out of truck drivers.
I was caught up in a road block by Police just east of Sims Gap in NSW on Monday.
Further investigation revealed a small motorhome lying on the highway on the driver's side. I don't know if anyone was hurt, or worse, but all emergency services attended.
I concluded only speed could have caused this event. The vehicle obviously left the bitumen, and was pulled back on to the black top, causing the vehicle to slew around and over, and then proceeded to slide another 100 metres on its side, to face the way it came, on the wrong side of the road. The signs of paint and metal particles embedded onto the road, showed the whole event.
Do not ever out-drive the conditions, the capability of the vehicle or the capability of the driver.
On a recent job to the NE of SA the truck driver blasted me because I didn't advise him of a corner in the road. Yes, a bend in the road. He told me he almost crashed because he was driving at 80 KPH, because he could, when he should have been going much slower with a D9 on the float at the back. I told him he must always driver according to conditions, and it wasn't compulsory to drive at 80 KPH because he can.
He wasn't a good bush driver where there are no white posts, no signs, and the conditions of the road surface change with no warning.
Always, always please drive to conditions - road conditions and your vehicle and driving ability.
That seems to be the attitude.
There is also a huge tendency in society these days, to blame someone, anyone for the results of our poor decisions.
It was my fault the young fellow nearly crashed the truck because he decided to drive too fast around the corner on bulldust.
It was the tractor driver's fault because he got in the way of this caravan and tug - the pride and joy.
They are out there, and it's up to us to be aware and prepared for just about anything.
Did you hear anything about the occupants of the motorhome? Doesnt sound good.
There are approx 350,000 registered RV's in australia and growing by 20,000 per year.
That must leave a helluva lot who are not members of forums(fora?) and where do they get their education about caravanning/motorhoming/campertrailering from?
Then of course as an experienced driver you know to keep a sharp eye out for the idiots with licences that you witness every day on the highway.
HOW do we get the message out there? a question I do not have an answer for.
thanks for posting this CG
frank
I tow a large caravan, well 20ft, and I'm in the transport industry on the road in most states. I also once was a courier driver in the city. The more we are on the road, the more exposure to these arrogant idiots operating a motor vehicle.
There are also more opportunities to learn about the characters using the roads and how they are likely to behave.
It's up to all of us to discuss these issues at every opportunity, up to the point where you become tedious and boring.
Those happy hours around the camp are your time to bring it up and discuss it among your travelling peers.
I had a discussion with the truck driver about my job. He was adamant about his perception, and not the person to argue with, but unfortunately he was wrong, or at the very least, mislead and misunderstood the role of pilot driver in relation to escorting big loads.
Hopefully the magazines will see the sense in publishing my stuff. I can only do my best, and if using my journalistic experience is my way of doing that, that's what I'll do.
You can all do it in your own way, in your travels. Discuss, discuss, discuss.
I do manage most times to drop the "I am a forum member and I have learnt lots from the other members" line but I don't have any clue whether I am making a difference or not. I can only hope I am.
Do the magazines sell as many copies as there are forum members? It would be interesting to see a comparison.
I was absolutely amazed at the number of caravanners on the road with NO BLODDY MIRRORS(I usually look for a camera too). So they did not have a clue what was happening behind and you usually saw a line of traffic behind them waiting for an overtaking lane. I should drop a line to traffic branch to have a look at some enforcement in that area as that may be the only way to "educate" some.
travel safe
frank
Isn't that illegal in all States ?
Cheers,
Sheba.
Cameras can be helpful but the field of vision is too small and the perspective is not accurate enough. It is handy but mirrors are essential.
It just adds to the attitude of arrogance. Hands on the wheel, nose in the air, totally oblivious of other road users. It frustrates the hell out of truck drivers.