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Offline Eski

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Dirt road overtaking practice
« on: October 03, 2012, 02:07:53 PM »
Coming back from Arkaroola we came across a slow 4WD ute/trailer on the dirt.  They were travelling slower than the road required, sitting on top of the corrugations etc.  Travelling at his pace just out of their dust was painfully rough.

We pulled over a couple of times for photos and still caught up to them quickly at 80 Kph.

I waited for a dusty but minimum stones bit, moved all the way to the right with lights on high to let him know and passed while staying right so as not to Dust/Stone him.  Floodway was a little rough on the right but stayed there for them.

Was I right or wrong?   What is the accepted practice?   ???

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Offline BigJules

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2012, 02:33:06 PM »
The only thing I could add was did you try to raise them on UHF?

On long outback roads one can't be expected to sit behind a slow driver all day, can add hours to your trip. And folks driver slower for a bunch of reasons; vehicle isn't up to going faster, wife won't let him, they're totally happy at low(er) speed etc.
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Offline Patr80l

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2012, 02:53:24 PM »
If they are raising dust they might not see you behind them.   I just returned from a trip that included the Oodnadatta track.    Generally if you sit back and one side of the dust cloud they will yield when they can.   Most seemed sensible enough that if we both slow down then the passing is hassle free.
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Offline Clouty

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2012, 03:02:34 PM »
You did all the right things as Bigjules said try and get them on the UHF..
 :cheers:
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Offline bobnrob

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2012, 10:18:51 PM »
Unfortunately, you come across selfish people out in the bush too.

A slow(er) vehicle should pull to the side, & let any (obviously) faster vehicle pass.
They may not see you straight away through the dust, but as tracks twist & wind, there are moments of clarity, & if you didn't have a vehicle behind you before, & you do now, let them pass.
I usually give a slower vehicle a chance to do the right thing, but if they don't, I start flashing my lights & hope they then get the message. If they don't, then I just stay back because I don't believe in taking any risk on lose dirt & (usually) blind bends.
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Offline Eski

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2012, 10:48:17 PM »
Yes I remembered the UHF after I turned off the computer.

Yes I tried Channels 40 (road) and 10 (4WD's) and no answer on ether..  I didn't try 18 (caravans) as he only had a box trailer so didn't think it was worth a go.

There were times there was minimal dust so I hoped they would have seen us.. 
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Offline SteveandViv

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2012, 10:49:31 PM »
I also think you did the right thing. We often get those who want to do 60 K on the Gibb, even on the tar ( which is now almost all the way to the turn off to Tunnel Creek). While the road is single lane you can still overtake if you plan it right, I wish people were more attentive to their surroundings. Half the time they look almost surprised that we are even there, it p1sses me off. You have to dodge the road signs though :-). As a note it it tar now all the way at the other end from the turn off from Elquestro to Kununuura so do the Gibb soon as it will be a highway before you know it.
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Offline dazzawhipple

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Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2012, 01:29:50 AM »
Well I tend to drive at a speed that's ok to the conditions, probably to slow but having had a blow out on a red road and ending up in a ditch, I always prefer to get there late than not at all

Having said that its down to the person wanting to pass normal road rules apply, pass only when it's safe, I tend to pull to the left to let people pass

I am sorry to say but if i get a guy flashing me then they won't mind the birdie as they pass.....
« Last Edit: October 04, 2012, 01:35:38 AM by dazzawhipple »
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Offline SteveandViv

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2012, 04:39:04 AM »
Then you would get a saw finger up here ;D. We don't do it out of rudeness (unless your a tourist driving a Brits van at 40K an hour up Cape Leveque road - That's just plain mad) but as it's dusty all the time, it helps the car see we are there, although if it's a road train then channel 40 is FAR safer ;D. Again that is standard fair up here so no offence should be taken.
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Offline Symon

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2012, 05:20:42 AM »
Goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) but on dirt have your lights on, that way they have a chance of seeing you through the dust.

I agree, give them some time to do the right thing and pull over, but if they don't (and those people are around) wait for a long straight and take your time overtaking.
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Offline fishfinder

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2012, 06:09:38 AM »
just slowly nudge the right hand corner of the trailer in front of you with the left hand corner of your bullbar after a few nudges the driver of the vehicle will think something is wrong and pull over to investigate so you too pull over and hit the driver with a wet fish for driving tooo slow
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Offline kiwipete

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2012, 06:34:19 AM »
On the strzelecki track we were passed by 3 other 4x4s a couple years ago (Guided tour)..  We were travelling at a good solid speed 90-100kph but they still managed to catch us as they were heading for innamincka and it was getting late ..  They got us on the UHF and we slowed and moved over to let them pass,  if anyone knows the road and at this part in particular it was like a 4 lane highway (very wide)...  first 2 passed me while they were hard right giving as much room as possible between us but the third f'er screamed past as if he got a big run up sitting on the crown and spray the Shit outta the 80,   I just got a new windscreen before the trip and the A'hole broke this one with a star now in the high centre of it...   Not happy :( ,  I blasted the Tour leader on the UHF and I hope he now instructs his charges in future on how to pass on gravel....
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Offline krisandkev

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2012, 08:09:38 AM »
Not to offend caravan owners, but I find they are the worst, especially if in convoy!
Got stuck behind 2 of them on the way to Cobbold Gorge one year, right at the start of the dirt.  There was no way I could get their attention and they would not move over.  There was no safe way to overtake, so I was stuck eating their dust all the way to the gorge.  I did not say anything to them at the gorge, did not want to cause a fuss.
On the Gibb got behind 3 caravans coming out of El Questro heading towards Kununurra.  Again, they would not pull over so I had to just fly past them and probably sprayed them in rocks.  It was either that or shake to crap out of our car and trailer going slow over the corrugations.  I have also tried to use the UHF.
On the other side of the coin, I hate it when drivers do not give you the time to safely slow down and pull over and they just come up at a million kilometres an hour and fly past.   >:(
Kevin
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Offline Squalo

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2012, 08:32:44 AM »
Quote from: fishfinder on October 04, 2012, 06:09:38 AM
just slowly nudge the right hand corner of the trailer in front of you with the left hand corner of your bullbar after a few nudges the driver of the vehicle will think something is wrong and pull over to investigate so you too pull over and hit the driver with a wet fish for driving tooo slow

LOL  ;D

I'll have to make sure my wet fish isn't too near the bottom of the Waeco, don't want to go slapping anyone with a frozen mullet.
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Offline duggie

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2012, 12:59:48 PM »
As I travel dirt roads a lot and at a fair pace I do encounter slower drivers/cars/4x4's fairly often. Yes I have my lights on, yes I do try to call ahead, yes I do hang out on one side for a while with the hope that they will see me, but there is seldom a driver that either cares or they don't want to be passed and sit in my dust all be it for a short time. I belive that if I catch up to a vehicle on dirt roads I am traveling quicker, the same goes in reverse , if by chance some one can catch up to me they are going faster, so let them by and the dust will settle soon enough.

When all else has failed , as stated above, I will overtake where safe. The method I use is to accelerate up to level with the drivers window of the vehicle been passed and as far to the right side as possible, because I have gained distance and have higher speed, I then back off with my size 12 boot and roll past taking the drive of the rear wheels therefore reducing the amount of rock that will be thrown up. once I am several car lengths ahead slowly accelerate away again .

cheers duggie
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Offline dazzler

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #15 on: October 04, 2012, 01:01:44 PM »
Whats this 'dust' stuff you are talking about?
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Offline Pipeliner

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #16 on: October 04, 2012, 01:23:20 PM »
The most important thing about overtaking on a dirt road is....................


NEVER DRIVE INTO A DUST CLOUD IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT!
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Offline SteveandViv

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #17 on: October 05, 2012, 12:05:38 AM »
Quote from: Pipeliner on October 04, 2012, 01:23:20 PM
The most important thing about overtaking on a dirt road is....................


NEVER DRIVE INTO A DUST CLOUD IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT!

100%
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Offline SteveandViv

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #18 on: October 05, 2012, 12:06:59 AM »
Quote from: krisandkev on October 04, 2012, 08:09:38 AM
Not to offend caravan owners, but I find they are the worst, especially if in convoy!
Got stuck behind 2 of them on the way to Cobbold Gorge one year, right at the start of the dirt.  There was no way I could get their attention and they would not move over.  There was no safe way to overtake, so I was stuck eating their dust all the way to the gorge.  I did not say anything to them at the gorge, did not want to cause a fuss.
On the Gibb got behind 3 caravans coming out of El Questro heading towards Kununurra.  Again, they would not pull over so I had to just fly past them and probably sprayed them in rocks.  It was either that or shake to crap out of our car and trailer going slow over the corrugations.  I have also tried to use the UHF.
On the other side of the coin, I hate it when drivers do not give you the time to safely slow down and pull over and they just come up at a million kilometres an hour and fly past.   >:(
Kevin

Don't worry Kevin. It is all Tar now from the turn off at Elquestro to KUN - all of it  :'(
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Offline bobnrob

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Re: Dirt road overtaking practice
« Reply #19 on: October 05, 2012, 08:52:23 AM »
Quote from: dazzawhipple on October 04, 2012, 01:29:50 AM
Well I tend to drive at a speed that's ok to the conditions, probably to slow but having had a blow out on a red road and ending up in a ditch, I always prefer to get there late than not at all

Having said that its down to the person wanting to pass normal road rules apply, pass only when it's safe, I tend to pull to the left to let people pass

I am sorry to say but if i get a guy flashing me then they won't mind the birdie as they pass.....

As you are 1 of the few who "pull to the left to let people pass", highly unlikely you'd get flashed! Most likely get a few toots of the horn to say thanks  :)
Unless being followed by someone like me who still uses the (once common) flash of headlights to indicate my intentsion to come past.
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