Light Force - Lights Out

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 14:00
ThreadID: 44454 Views:2257 Replies:6 FollowUps:4
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Nothing wrong with the brand of lights, they are good.

But, last night I was unfortunate ebough to hit a big, read BIG, red.

Just jumped out directly in front of me from a quite low side of the road.
I had plenty of light on the road and could see for a long way, but it appeared very quickly, jumping straight in front of me.

Well, no more Light Force and it broke the bullbar where the lights are mounted.
I was on the speed limit of 90Kms and in a Mack truck. No hope of stopping, and the last thing you want to do in any vehicle is swerve.

What really amazed me was that I went past the same spot a couple of hours later and looked for the remnants, and there was not a sign anywhere, no carcass, ( it still might be in orbit) (bad joke), no broken pieces of Light Force, nothing.

I thought that this is very deceiving for night time travellers.

While driving along, I try and take notice of what's around, and a few dead carcasses along the side of the road are a good sign to be carefull. But, in this case you would never know I hit a roo and the damage it caused, there was no debris.
The night before, a car hit a roo in the same area, and had to be taken 140Kms back to town on a tow truck.

I guess what I am trying to say is, if you have to drive at night in the outback, be very carefull and keep the speed down.

I shudder to think what damage would have been done to my fouby if I had been in that last night, however, I never travel at more than 80kmh at night in roo country.
Even that's too fast sometimes, I have done lot's of K's at 60 when the roos are active.
A night with no wind and maybe a bit of moonlihgt are the worst times I reckon.

Don't be lulled into a false sense of security with not seeing any roos around in the scrub.
With the drought on, you just don't know where they are travelling to find water and food.

Dave
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Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:05

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:05
Thats rotten luck, Dave

I don't have any spotties on the 4by so have to drive to visibilty at night so speed comes down to 80kmh naturally....lol

In January I got rammed by a roo out on the station in broad daylight and I was doing about 10kmh..Stupid roo!!

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Dave198 - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:58

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:58
Willem, I think you know that we do that road 24/7 and it literally changes hour by hour as far as the roos are concerned.
They really are unpredictable though, but the emus are just as big a problem.

We constantly talk on the UHF, but sometimes you can only just grimace and shut your eyes.

At least I don't have to pay for the damage, and it's a price you pay for having to keep to a schedule.

Dave
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FollowupID: 495176

Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:44

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:44
Hi Dave ,

I was very thankful to a truck driver a couple of weeks ago . The sun set when I was halfway between Cobar and Nyngan . I came up behind a big truck and asked him if it was OK to sit 50 yards behind him till we hit Nyngan and use him as a roo bar .

So I was able to sit on 100 kph in relative safety . He even offered to hit his hazard lights if there was one coming towards me under the truck .

Coming in to Cobar from the west , I counted over 40 different mobs of goats along the sides of the road . Not as bad as roos , but still not good at 100 kph .

Willie .
AnswerID: 234262

Follow Up By: Dave198 - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:52

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:52
Some people don't sit so far back Willie, and all of a sudden a carcass appears right in front from under the truck.
More laundry then.
Dave
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Reply By: Member - Mark P (VIC) - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 18:50

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 18:50
Just wondering if anyone reckons those devices that scares roos be it electronic or otherwise that makes a high pitch noise louder than we can hear work. My guess is probably not, as I haven't seen any real data. Would like some opinions though.
AnswerID: 234280

Follow Up By: Member - Daryl C (VIC) - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:13

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:13
Mark, dont bother withthe Shoo-Roo or the Whistels.
I have worked for plenty of interstare transport companys that would not fit eather even if they were payed good money to do so. The roo's carnt teel were the nose is coming from so you have a 25% chance of one coming straight at you. Best bet - spend $400+ on a GOOD set of spotties (both with spread beam lences).

Just my thoughts.
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Reply By: MintabiePete - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:18

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:18
Sorry to hear about your light Dave , but glad you are ok . I have to run the gauntlet down to the Adelaide next week so will probably see some in the early morning , my neighbour working for Bemax reckons there are a few on the road when he is on night shift , must be feeding on that green pickings on the edge of the road .
AnswerID: 234288

Reply By: Member - Mark P (VIC) - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:38

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:38
That's a really valid point Daryl. Thanks.
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Reply By: Exploder - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 21:13

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 21:13
Yeah, I am the clown who drop’s to 80-90 when it gets dark, doesn’t see any roos and thinks the hell with this and belts along at 110-120km/h on most night driving expeditions, spots the odd roo even has one or 2 jump out, slows down for a bit then buck up to speed and never Hit’s any LOL.

Strange how the world works.

Oh and I am a big advocate of using the Simi that is in front of you as the roo buster when they are about in numbers, The old Kenworth’s have saved me many a dent LOL.
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Follow Up By: Exploder - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 21:14

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 21:14
and that should be semi Not simi
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