PLEASE SLOW DOWN WHEN PASSING ON DIRT ROADS
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 21:48
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sdr00y
Seems that now the roads are better, vehicles are better, air conditioned etc, that no-one gives much consideration to anyone else when passing any more. (I'm not talking about overtaking either, just passing someone coming the other way.)
The roads are good so people driver quicker.
Cars are good so people drive quicker.
Cars are air conditioned therefore people don't have to breathe in the dust.
Cars are more powerful so people tow their trailers (camper or boat).
Because we were early heading north, we passed hardly anyone on our way up. When we were returning south from the cape, we passed more cars towing trailers in one day that the total of vehicles for the whole trip. I think we passed maybe 35 to 40 vehicles all heading north, 20 + with trailers.
Problem was that everyone is stuck in thier own little world of their car and thinking nothing but.... get to the cape... got to go fishing... find the best camping spot... MUST BEAT EVERYONE ELSE.
NOT ONE OF THE TRAILER TOWING VEHICLES WE PASSED SLOWED DOWN.
Now they might be fine in their A/C cabin, with the stone guard on the trailer, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POOR BUGGER YOU JUST WENT PAST AT 80 OR 100KPH???
Has everyone forgotten about stones being thrown up by tyres? No one has any consideration about "the other bloke" anymore. When passing other vehicles on dirt roads, please slow down. It is not like you can not see oncoming vehicles. Slowing down minimises busted windscreens, chipped vehicles and faces full of dust.
Other than that I had a great trip.
Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 22:25
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 22:25
Before I got my Prado I had a Honda Civic. I took this for a trip through
Brachina Gorge in the Central Flinders and then up to
Blinman and to Parachilna.
As I was coming out the Parachina road to the Hwy which is a fairly straight good gravel road I had a convoy of 4by's approach. I remember it
well. It was a convoy of around 10 dark coloured 100 series cruisers all decked out with the latest ARB gear (bars, racks, wheel carriers ect) and the whole convoy was doing about 80 to 100km/h and right up each others butts. I pulled off the road and stopped and the car was still pelted with stones and the dust was incredible.
I have never seen anything like it and remember thinking "what a bunch of arrogant tossers". Now that I have had a 4by for a couple of years and have had a chance to participate in a few club convoy trips I am thinking that this convoy was likely a magazine or media run or something as they seemed to be all the latest vehicles with all the fruit on them and had no idea of road manners at all. Just the driving style seemed to say "Get out the way!!!!". Club trippers tend to be brainy enough to stay out of each others dust cloud as
well!
More generally speaking I too have noticed that while some people will slow up a bit when passing on stony or dusty roads there are a lot that just fly past with zero regard for others. Best we can do is to drive as you would like others to drive and hope it rubs off....
Muddy
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Reply By: Muddies Doe(Trippn) - Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 22:32
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 at 22:32
Hi SdrOOy
Yeap and as they improve (widen) the roads to the Cape more idiots like them will go!!!
I found (3 times to the Cape and one almost to the Cape) it doesn't matter if they have trailers or not.
Everyone wants to be there yesterday, leave the same day and stuff who is on the same road as them!!!
The OTL is the way to go but you still have the roads before the turnoff and the Nth bypass road to
the tip and in when you do it in reverse.
So it will only get worse as more idiots go that don't allow enough time or choose to SLOW DOWN.
Noone gives themselves enough time to enjoy the trip up and back, there is soooooooooo much to enjoy!!!
Can't wait to take Muddy there!!!
Cya
:)
I am Muddy's Other Half
AnswerID:
179975
Reply By: Footloose - Friday, Jun 23, 2006 at 08:26
Friday, Jun 23, 2006 at 08:26
I leave in a week on a 12000k trip. Just reading your posts almost makes me have second thoughts.
I usually drive in the bush with my lights on, and am the first vehicle to slow down and pull off to the side, especially on one laned tar. If it's a road train I pull off and stop. I know I wont be able to see a following vehicle behind the train because of the dust.
If there's a blind corner I always expect someone to come charging around on the wrong side of the track.
Part of the problem is the perceived lack of time. People expect to get from A to B in exactly X number of days. I always leave a couple of days up my sleeve in case of breakdowns etc. I might take more time, but I'll bet that I enjoy the trip a hell of a lot more than some poor tour operator whose clients have to catch a plane at the end of the journey.
And yes, there's often a seige mentality among groups, especially charity groups. Many go along to achieve specific objectives which are quite different to those of the average responsible 4wder.
In fact I do some work for one of the major charity groups, and refuse to go along on their trips. Not because they do bad things, but because I like to enjoy my time in the bush. Being hald sozzled and running to a strict timetable with a bunch of newbies isn't my idea of fun.
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