High Country Driving

Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004 at 18:44

ThreadID: 16484 Views:2395 Replies:3 FollowUps:4

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Truckster (Vic)

Handy tip #1 from Vic 4wd association.

The issue of who has right of way on narrow roads in Alpine areas has come before the Association and it is worth reminding members about the standard Alpine Road protocols.

Vehicles travelling uphill have right of way over those travelling down.

Remember that a vehicle that stops while going up hill will not restart in many circumstances, however the vehicle on the downhill run can just roll on down.

So next time you find yourself in this situation stop and give way to the uphill traveller....

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Reply By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004 at 19:25

Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004 at 19:25

As a general rule this approach works well. However, on my last drive of Billy Goats Bluff I encountered an oncoming party of 5 vehicles - 3 of them towing trailers - guess who ended up backing up (or should I say down) the hill, yep me. Why, I hear you ask (well let's pretend I did anyway) - 'cause it was simply too difficult for those towing trailers to back up the hill. To top it off it none of them were monitoring CH10 - UHF either. But we worked things out in the end. Patience is the best virtue in these circumstances.

AnswerID: 77466

Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004 at 22:54

Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004 at 22:54

I have experienced a similar situation in the high country with people towing trailers.
Very dangerous situation occurred.
The answer is that people should seriously consider were they take those trailers and the ramifications of the situation they create with other track users.
I have gone on record on this forum before with my view about the towing of trailers off road and the serious dangers they create.

Now I will wait for the first return punch from a off road trailer owner's out there who will say not me, I do the right thing.

The right thing, Leave them in the driveway at home.

VKS737 - Mobile 6352 (Selcall 6352)

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Reply By: Member - Royce- Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 at 00:32

Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 at 00:32

Makes good sense... but sometimes vehicle nearest to the rock wall.i.e not on the outside of the track can tuck into the wall and stop while the other can pass. Or... maybe technically you are on the way up, but at that moment the track is nearly flat....... numbers and situations are different at any point. Using the cb is probably the best method of working things out. I really like not being at the front. Then negotiations and warnings can take place before I meet oncoming traffic. I'm 6" wider than most [on each side] so can have a problem or two if I don't take care.

Take care all

AnswerID: 77485

Reply By: Member - Browny (VIC) - Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 at 17:52

Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 at 17:52

Truckster,
I received that also & of course will follow proticol, but I'm not sure if I agree 100% \
If on one of our steep narrow tracks and come accross another vehicle in opposite direction with not enough room to pass, is it not easier for the vehicle coming up to reverse down to a suitable position rather than the vehicle coming down try to reverse up a steep incline where momentum and speed are required?
(especially A tojo with those dodgy front diffs..:-)

Interested on your and others thoughts.

Browny

AnswerID: 77579

Follow Up By: navaraman - Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 at 18:09

Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 at 18:09

Agree with your views Browny.
The people that give me the s***s are the ones who won't pull into the scrub in their shiny new cars because they don't want to scratch it when it's the only real alternative.

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