Dashcam footage from a collision which happened between Windorah and Birdsville. PIC: Queensland Police
As the grey nomad season gets into full swing, the Queensland Police have launched a road safety initiative focused on the particular perils of Outback driving.
As part of the initiative, the police released dashcam footage from a collision which happened in 2018 between Windorah and Birdsville. It shows traffic on the road throwing up a huge amount of dust which caused a visibility hazard just before the accident, in which luckily, no one was seriously injured.
The RACQ has backed the police initiative, with spokesperson Clare Hunter saying travellers find regional roads can be unforgiving.
“Often they’re unsealed, dusty, have soft shoulders, are badly pot-holed, corrugated or have sections of loose gravel,” she said. “Drivers should also be aware they might encounter other hazards like road trains or even stock or wildlife straying onto the roads.”
Ms Hunter urged motorists to be aware of their surroundings and adjust their driving to suit conditions.
“In dusty conditions and on unsealed roads, it’s crucial you leave a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles, and ensure you keep to the left when other cars approach as often the roads can be narrow,” she said. “Please remember to slow down as it reduces dust and increases visibility of the road ahead for yourself and other roads users, and can help minimise windscreen stone damage.”
Police have also urged motorists to be aware of the Fatal Five:
* Have you ever been temporarily ‘blinded’ by a dust on an Outback road? Do you think some travellers just don’t understand the conditions? Comment below.
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People should also take a couple of other precautions, such as ensuring their headlights are on, keeping over to the side a bit if possible and looking in the mirror from time to time. Sure you’re throwing up a lot of dust but you still need to keep in mind that those who are not towing will attempt to go around you, so be prepared for it.
Incidentally, I very frequently see people, towing or not, simply drive from the bitumen onto an unsealed road and continue driving as if there’s no difference. If that unsealed road is more than a few kilometres, don’t just slow down, get out and lower your tyre pressures to suit. If you’re towing do the same for the caravan/trailer. What, no compressor to pump them back up? Then stick to the bitumen because driving unsealed roads with highway tyre pressures is dangerous.
Bloody Caravaners, just stay of the road you silly old buggers