Roadtrains and Tourists.

OK well spell check worked well it took road train out of that twice. I spose that is one way to correct spelling, remove it ....grin

It only takes a little bit of CDF to allow trucks to have all the road. If the verges are wet, use your radio to give the driver plenty of warning on what your intentions are.

The need for courtesy and common sense applies equally to all parties. Perhaps road trains should be required to travel a little slower (given their weight and length) so that both they and oncoming traffic can negotiate safetly.

I've always wondered what two roadtrains do when they come across each other on these narrow roads?

Why should the tactics be any different to a caravan that can't/does want to get bogged as well?

Genuine question here, not stirring the pot.....i'm interested in the answer.

Thanks
Andrew

I doubt that just moving over caused a road train to roll over. I strongly suspect that speed was also a contributing factor.

I always approach it this way.

ME - 4.8m long and 2T approx. Travelling at 90kmh
ROAD TRAIN - 40m long & xxxT approx. Travelling at 90 kmh

Easier for me to stop than the road train. Besides, I don't like the idea of wearing my ring up around my neck.

Having said all that, the road rules apply to everyone so we ALL need to consider what may be on the road, road trains included. Maybe they should be speed limited a bit more, and the speed lmits on dirt roads reduced.

Trucks can and do roll over even at very slow speeds because of soft edges on the road.This especially goes for cattle trucks and trucks with hay bales which are very top heavy.They are allowed to go to 4.6 metres in height unlike normal freight which is only allowed to go to 4.3 metres.

Everyone has the right to the road BUT when some thing like that is coming towards you a bit of common sense is needed. Firstly if you cant see a truck with the dust that would be flying up around it,stones, and the like on an open dirt road then you either need glasses or shouldnt be driving secondly you wont be able to see past it anyway till the dust settles so you would be driving blind for a minute or two (whats behind him ??). How much would say a cruiser/patrol with a van on the back weigh all up ?? 4or 5 tonne ?? How much would these trucks weight including live stock ??? Work out the figures I know what I would be doing. UHF not available (shouldnt be out there) but if its not, pull over to the left without hitting the side stuff and adjust your speed to just a crawl headlights on, and weight till he rumbles past then on your merry way again, less chance of a broken windscreen and a sh#t load safer. Pretty simple really. These blokes are very good drivers and most have probably been doing from a young age, so they know the roads better then most and they will see you. Regards Steve M

Squizzy



As long as I can remember it has been etiquette up here to allow road trains to stay on the centre of the road and for other vehicles (cars, 4wd, caravan, etc) to get off the road.

It is far easier for other vehicles to move over than fop a road train.

What concerns me is that it has to be discussed on this site.



Tjilpi
Tjilpi

Why argue with a road train? How dumb is that?

I also suspect that with the variety of comms devices on road trains (just look at how many antennae they have) that they send out a signal/tone that can be picked up by other RTS so they have plenty of time to organise a good place to pass.

The van tower wasn't a Victorian nomad by any chance? Maybe the truckie should have exercised Darwin's law and carried on straight down the centre and wiped this inconsiderate and arrogant fool off the road for good! He/she obviously doesn't deserve to be there.

About five years ago I tried to do the right thing for a road train. I pulled over to the left and stopped to allow the road train the full width of the road (including the shoulders) - I was well out of the way. The bugger then used all the road as was intended but I don't think it was necessary to also use the shoulder nearest to me thus showering me in sharp gravel where the road has recently been resurfaced. The centre bitumen was clean. Ah well, all it cost me was a windscreen and much paintwork to be repaired. It made me feel good thought to have done the right thing - not. Yeah, I know most do the right thing but the one who doesn't irritates me and my wallet.

Squizzy

Fact of life, they need us to help them, by getting right out of the way, and lets face it, they are not really that hard to pick up .

I just call them up, and get right off the road, and stop...

Usually that much dust and shyte flying everywhere, you cannot see anyway.

Anyway, I'm on holidays, and these poor buggers,, are working

Cheers MAte
Bucky

Having just been to Birdsville for our first trip out there, and not having had much experiance with Road Trains in the past, I asked around a few fellow travellers who HAD been out there and followed their advice. And their advice was just plain old fashioned common sense really. So when a RT was approaching, I flashed my lights and immediately announced on UHF, "You have the road mate", then got out of their way. The response was always a polite thank you from them.

I worked out for myself that whilst we're on holidays happily wandering carefree out to enjoy the Simpson Desert and surrounds etc, these blokes are still at work and the highway is their office!!

The other thing I noticed was the amount of people who are travelling without comms! I would think it should be somehow mandatory to have UHF at least in your rig so that you can contact others, or more importantly, be contacted!

Did 'the block' years ago on a motorbike.
Easer to get off the road that a rig, I know. On dirt roads, at the first sign of a RT, and for our saftey, we would pull right off the road to the windward side to keep out of the dust and flying rocks.
The dust takes minutes to settle any way, so we would stretch the legs and take a break.

cheers

Did 'the block' years ago (1976) on a motorbike.
Easer to get off the road than a rig, I know. On dirt roads, at the first sign of a RT, and for our saftey, we would pull right off the road to the windward side to keep out of the dust and flying rocks.
The dust takes minutes to settle any way, so we would stretch the legs and take a break.

cheers