Collateral damage from car rallies

I have always thought that it’s good practice to slow down when approaching an oncoming vehicle on a gravel road. It’s a mark of consideration for others, avoids spraying them with rocks and may perhaps prevent an accident.

So we were disappointed by the behaviour of participants in a high profile car rally that we encountered in north Queensland recently. No hint of slowing down despite very loose gravel, gibbers flying everywhere, and livestock along the unfenced road.

We sustained one stone chip on our windscreen (it will have to be replaced to get through rego), and called over the UHF on their frequency asking them to slow down. No response, though we did subsequently hear one or two drivers calling that they were slowing down for oncoming vehicles.

I wonder whether rally drivers are given any advice about approaching oncoming traffic? Are their schedules so tight that they can’t slow down a bit when circumstances warrant it?

I accept that some rallies do a good job with supporting worthy causes, but perhaps some drivers get a bit caught up in the excitement of it all and forget that others share the roads they are travelling on.

What are others' experiences of “collateral damage” from car rallies?

Cheers,

Val