Grazed Nomads

Reply By: Rockape - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 11:21

Reply By: Member - Tour Boy ( Bundy QLD) - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 11:43

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 11:43

I just witnessed a near multiple fatal.

A line of traffic was heading south along the Bruce Hwy near Bororen. There
was 3 cars then a B Double followed by another dozen cars (me being 3rd behind the B Double.

As we approached the cemetary (of all places) a p plater in a GU decided to overtake the B Double. We were all doing around 100kph at this point and still a bit bunched up as we had just come out of a 60kph zone.
As the GU got about 1/2 way past the B double, a falcon and caravan turned North out of the cemetary without looking to his left. He was looking to the right for traffic going in his direction (we all do it).
He got right out onto the road before seeing the GU comming straight for him.
The B double is on the skids, the falcon with caravan freak out and drive off the road and the GU swerves infront of the B double probably polishing the trucks bullbar as he went it was that close.

It was a life lesson for the p plater not to overtake when there is a side street in the middle of the overtake and the falcon owner to look both ways before pulling out. At least they learnt it and are all alive an well (except for their undies) to remember for next time.

It only takes a moment of innatention for deadly results. There was a caravan rollover 2km south from this spot last week. A falcon towing a large dual axle van (maybe too heavy?) got a bit out of shape somehow on a straight section of road, sideswiped a family in a RAV (writing it off) and flipped the van on it's side on the wrong side of the HWY with the car jacknifed facing the opposite direction still attached to the van with the rear wheels 2 feet in the air (strong hitch eh). They were lucky no one was hurt and they drove the falcon away but the van is still in Miriam Vale all busted up.

Cheers
Dave

Cheers,
Dave
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AnswerID: 418531

Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 12:47

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 12:47

Learnt the same lesson as that P plater, passing a truck on the highway in my mini years ago, on a long straight.

Farmer drives up to the front gate and turn left right in front of me.

I was half way down the truck so put the right indicator on, and onto the dirt, and the farmer went between me and the truck, and didn't see me until he was passing me.

Always check side roads and driveways for vehicles now, before overtaking.

I was still shaking when I got home.

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FollowupID: 688635

Follow Up By: Allan B, Sunshine Coast, - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 17:00

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 17:00

An almost identical thing happened to me John, many years ago.

Passing a truck when a farmer's ute pulled out from the scrub lining the road. Turned left and came straight at me. Was just able to brake enough to get back behind the truck.

The farmer had come out of a paddock gate and was hidden from my view while probably shutting the gate. There was no visibility of an access through the scrub line until you were adjacent to it.

Nowadays, whenever I overtake I remember and hope to hell that no-one pops out from behind a bush. It is not always possible to have an absolutely clear landscape to overtake.

And no Dave, we don't "all do it", fail to look both ways that is. After that incident I am very aware of the need to look both ways. You could easily be looking straight at a Mack bullbar!