Forums thoughts on assisting fellow travellers.

I'd stop. And i think otherd should. Personal opinion these days i spose.

Been some deep discussion on this topic in the past and there are some legitimate concerns. I personally would stop and ask if any help was reqyuired and we have done this on several occasions. The big deal is one's assessment on personal safety and there is no right answer for this.

Obviously, people may have different views on stopping for a family as opposed to a bunch of guys. I feel that even if the crew looked sus you might at least offer to contact someone in the next town or the like.

Kind regards

Hi Deepat.
I also experienced a similiar situation on the Plenth highway a few years ago.While changing a tyre on the side of the road, a tag along group charged past covering us with stones & dust.
By the comments on the uhf they thought it was quite funny to see someone broken down on the side of the road.

I always stop for someone broken down in the bush but have second thoughts doing the same in our local area.

Cheers.
Vince

I personally would stop and do what I can to help. But I can see the issue with some older people maybe retired etc not wanting to stop due to safety concerns.

I believe what goes around comes around

If your not looking like you need assistance its less likely people will stop.
usually people either stop or slow down and make eye contact and if you dont wave them on they stop

I am pretty sure that you would be a tad embarrassed the next week when you arrived and read the news about a family perishing in the desert.!!! It's unforgivable, the least you can do is slow down and ask if they need assistance. Keep the windows wound up if you like to assess the situation.
M

Deepat.

On a recent trip we stopped to help a number of times.

"You always stop"

How would it be to hear a couple of days latter that the people you past had some serious problems.

My theory. In days gone past the mentality of the outback traveller was somewhat different to today, unfortunately.
Ah yes, the difference between tourist and traveller.

Always slow down and always stop if it's obvious that assistance is needed.

Only came across one vehicle stopped on the side of the road on our recent trip of about 6000km. Probably because we tend to go really off the normal ways.

Slowed down to see if help needed but before we had come to a complete stop the person on the side of the road had waved us on as being ok.

About half hour later when we were stopped they drove past and did the same.

People not slowing down is just outright rudness. Not just for stopped vehicles but also when a vehicle(s) is(are) coming the other way.

On several occassions we saw "convoys' of what could have been tag along tours but a least groups travelling together that did not slow down on gravel/dirt roads for vehicles going the other way or for camping areas.

On one occassion it was lucky I had slowed to about 10kph as we would have ended up with a broken windscreen at a faster speed. Rock bounced of the bull bar and across the bonnet. It was not as if they had not seen us the road was straight for about 2km before we passed.

You could say the same about idiots driving through camping areas. We were camped at Diamantina national park, about lunch time 4 4x4's with camper trailers arrive in the camping area, at about 60kph. Fortunately the wind blew the dust away from us but arriving in a camp ground at > 10kph when it's quite obvious the conditions are dusty is just plain rude. Mind you given that they stayed a total of 5 minutes and never got out of their vehicles shows the attitude, but I guess they've now done the Diamantina.

Cheers
Ross

"The thing that amazed me the most about the 4x4's were the half dozen proudly displayed "Explore Oz" stickers on the vehicles."

Unfortunately there are dopes in every group. I'm sure they're very much in the minority here or any other like minded group.

The normal thing would be to slow down and enquire if any assistance is needed. It does'nt take much and won't inconvenience "the Schedule" too much.

By all means slow down but lock doors first and always keep engine running to allow for a quick get away if required. Also, get one passenger to keep an eye out on the opposite side of the road for trouble. I'm not paranoid, just careful, as sadly, there are a few crazy people out there these days.

Old Mal

What are you alluding to when you say that the vehicles speeding by had ExplorOz stickers on them? They may also have had various 4x4 club stickers as well. Are those who display ExplorOz stickers supposed to have good road manners just because? I think not.


Slowing down and seeing if someone needs assistance is the right thing to do but always take precautions. If flagged down drive at least 20 - 50 metres past the broken down vehicle. The person needing assistance should then come to your vehicle and then you can assess the situation and help if you can.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, many travellers have no clue about outback etiquette or road manners or they just don't care!

As usual common sense is the best policy.
As our farm was on a road where services were few and far between I have stopped and offered assistance many times to many people and from many nationalities too, most cases run out of fuel, as well as crashes from driving to fast for the conditions,
In a recent case helped out a Sydney family driving the Southern Scenic Route, the driver had entered a corner at too high a speed, spun out and when I come along the Rental was sitting with both front wheels hanging over the river bank and a hysterical mom and kids standing on the other side of the road. Put the hubs in gear on the old Landcruiser, hooked up the stretchy and it took quite a big jerk got them back out on the road, a bit of panel repair with the sledge hammer and crow bar got them back on the road again. As I was putting the gear away they waved and drove off, first thoughts were at least they could have said THANKS, on hindsight I don't think it was deliberate, shock etc, just hope they can repay some one else.
The people who take the fuel container, promise to drop it off full and then don't bleep you off, the guy that seemed to run low on oil 3 Sundays in a row got the message, but in most cases people are genuine.
Recently while travelling Old Andannoo to Alice Springs I marvelled at the wheel marks of a car that had navigated through and round the bulldust holes, I had to stop and put the hubs in gear the bulldust was that deep, as I got closer to the settlement a red Corona was sitting by the road and a couple of kids playing with a football out on the road, smoke drifring from a fire back off the road. Travelling by myself I thought what do I do here, slowed down anyway, then three adults appeared in sight gave me big two handed waves along with huge smiles, and I carried on, I am sure they were appreciative that I had taken time to check.