Single lane bridges are just that!

Forgot to add that according to th eemail I received the bridge is on the Yellow Waters Road, NT

what was the Prado driver thinking you do not win when it comes to road trains

some people go on holiday and leave commonsense at home

wasn't there a similar post on here recently ??

Salt Creek bridge on the Roper Hwy. We had a spirited discussion in early Sept., regarding what amounts to careless driving.
I wonder if anyone was charged with that offence? If they were, I'll wager they aren't telling anyone.

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/104179/Pedal-to-the-metal_syndrome.aspx?ky=&sn=&p=%2FForum%2FDefault.aspx%3Fpn%3D1

I had a experience in pert couple of years ago I was a passenger in a car turning right onto great eastern hwy .

the driver a young female was on P plates we had duel carriageway right hand turn as we came up to the intersection there was a massive road train also turning right he was as far left as possible

the young lady driving was about to drive between the truck and the kerb I yelled stop stop the truck needs the room to move she had no idea

I asked her when you did your license did they say anything about road train she said " No"


she could not understand my problem I tried to explain to her that truck especially road trains needed more room to move around and more room for stopping

she had no idea her way of thinking is she was in her lane and the truck stayed into his and the truck should give way to her

sadly there is a number of people out there who have passed a driving test but really will never have the ability to drive a car safe this young female had me stumped

all she need to do was sit back and let the truck turn the corner and once the truck was safe she could move on past him simple basic common sense

I saw it a lot on the Bruce Highway which I drove a lot at one stage. There were a lot of single lane bridges with give way signs at one end. Trucks would ignore the sign and flash their lights expecting cars to give way to them.

When safe I would just flash my lights back and keep going. Truckies think they own the road to often.

Thankfully it was a truck the brainless moron hit.
If a smaller car, the prado would have killed someone, unfortunately probably not themselves.

I am no expert in the forensics of accident cause but....

Is it not possible that Mr and Mrs Holiday-maker were just quietly crossing the bridge, saw a truck heading in their direction at speed, tried to reverse at speed (as you would) and ended up jack knifing the trailer. Truck cant stop end result - above photo?

Is it not possible that Mr and Mrs Holiday-maker were quietly crossing the bridge having seen it was clear from their end, truck approaching at speed from other end - thinking it was clear (previous post on this topic suggests this bridge has a curve in it's approach). Smaller vehicle able to stop larger, faster, heavier truck unable to stop. end result - above photo?

Is it not possible...

Get the picture? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Most of them seem to have been written here.

I always find it amazing that armchair experts are quick to lay blame. It always seems to be the fault of the "impatient, inattentive, distracted, foreign, old..." 4WD driver while the "professional" road train drivers are the ones who are inconvenienced because they are just trying to make a living...

I'm not saying that is the case here but, moderation in blame laying, unless all the facts are fully disclosed, should be the name of the game.

What could we take away from these images?

1. Take notice of the Single Lane Bridge signs
2. Approach unknown roads/bridges with care.
3. Use your radio if you have one fitted.
4. Drive to the conditions.
5. Don't assume - it will make an ass of u and me.

The list goes on...

Before you slam me - just think - Is there another scenario than what you think?

Cheers

Anthony

So who is the genius who thinks that single lane bridges come even close to being acceptable in this day and age of cars that can comfortably sit on 100+ kph even with maybe 3.5 tonnes of caravan behind, and road trains with possibly 150 tonnes pulled by prime movers quite capable of sitting on a similar speed.
May have been acceptable when goods and people were transported by horse drawn carts.

Cheers
Pop

This thread should be read in conjunction with the recent one about using/not using UHF CBs productively.

A lot of these bridges, particularly in QLD, have a sign well before them saying Call Point. It is here that trucks and everyone else, imo, should call up with something like: "Caravan, northbound, approaching Smith Creek bridge".

It's also very important to be alert enough to check which side of the bridge has the Give Way sign too.

Like the previous post on the same subject this one highlights the dangers of one-lane bridges, and the need for all drivers to be fully alert, at all times.

And I guess that could be said for anytime you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, whether it is a Nissan Micra, or a large Kenworth pulling a road-train...

But until someone can actually post some detail on how this particular incident occurred it is wrong to be berating anyone over it…

Looks simple to me.

If you drive onto a one way bridge going so fast you can't stop for the unexpected or because you are too heavy, you shouldn't be driving.

Does anyone seriously think that a 4WD driver on holiday would bully a truckie or mid-judge the width of the road?

This post is just another beat-up on annoying little vehicles that shouldn't be on the road. Until your trucking industry gets rid of the idiots, you will all be branded the same.

Apologies to the majority of hard working drivers, but it is an industry problem that needs to be fixed.

Skull

I sort of agree, but would the same apply to a train approaching a level crossing? The train expects to have right of way, so doesn't slow down. Similarly, the road train has right of way, and shouldn't have to slow right down every time a crazy Prado driver mightn't give way. Same as on a one lane track, the truck stays centre and cars give way.

Rule 1 is give way to road trains. The Prado just learned the hard way.

Bob

Amazing the number of people (including on ExplorOz) who blank their number plates out on photos of their vehicle for privacy reasons, yet quite happy to plaster someone else's details as widely as possible.

Matt.

I reckon with a bit more speed, that Prado could have made it all the way past - it only stopped due to a lack of momentum! ;-)