Gravel Road Driving Etiquette

[muzza01]

I guess it's simple, treat people (other road users) how you would like to be treated. Some of my simple ways on the road...
1. If someone is traveling quicker then I, I will assist them where I can to let them go. I don't need the heart ache of a clown behind me becoming more impatient and make a risky pass. Let them go and if that means pull over, so be it.
2. If I am traveling faster than another driver. Firstly, headlights one so they can see you in the dust, pull over to the far right hind quarter of the vehicle in front, not too close. This is to ensure he can see you. Try calling him on UHF to inform of intention to pass. Give him enough time to see you and your intention, should he not slow down or move over to let you go, well, it's on him when I pass if I shower him with rocks.
3. If single lane, I'm more than happy for the other vehicle to stay on bitumen and I get fully off the road. That way he isn't showering me with rocks.
4. Road trains, I stop and get off the road as far as I can for these guys. It's not worth it....
5. Drive to the conditions
6. Did I say, headlights on.......:-)

X2

Fully agree.
If somebody wants to pass, let them go for it.  I will facilitate their passing at my first opportunity.  Even if it means I need to pull off the road.
KB

X2

[nbd73]

I sit on around 150km/hr people in front have no choice but to pull over

Is that whilst towing your CT? I'd like to know your fuel consumption at that speed!!

[fishfinder]

Is that whilst towing your CT? I'd like to know your fuel consumption at that speed!!

fuel consumption is not an issue it is the beer consumption that is the issue as the longer I am on the road the more beer I drink so I have to get to the destination as quick as possible as if I run out of beer whilst driving I will not know what to do to fill in the time.

[Traveller]

I guess it's simple, treat people (other road users) how you would like to be treated. Some of my simple ways on the road...
1. If someone is traveling quicker then I, I will assist them where I can to let them go. I don't need the heart ache of a clown behind me becoming more impatient and make a risky pass. Let them go and if that means pull over, so be it.
2. If I am traveling faster than another driver. Firstly, headlights one so they can see you in the dust, pull over to the far right hind quarter of the vehicle in front, not too close. This is to ensure he can see you. Try calling him on UHF to inform of intention to pass. Give him enough time to see you and your intention, should he not slow down or move over to let you go, well, it's on him when I pass if I shower him with rocks.
3. If single lane, I'm more than happy for the other vehicle to stay on bitumen and I get fully off the road. That way he isn't showering me with rocks.
4. Road trains, I stop and get off the road as far as I can for these guys. It's not worth it....
5. Drive to the conditions
6. Did I say, headlights on.......:-)

Couldn't agree more.

Even on the black stuff I tend to cruise along around the 90 kph mark, and as you can imagine a lot of vehicles come up behind. I then tend to speed up to 100 kph until a passing opportunity comes along. After the vehicle has gone I slow down again and all is sweet. I also like to flash my headlights to let the semi's know they can pull back in.

On the dirt is similar, but at a reduced speed usually. The thing that fills me with fear however is seeing a Britz vehicle coming the other way. Even if I stop as far off the road as I can get I still seem to get hammered by a wall of flying rocks. I have given up worrying about it now and just see it as another outback hazard.

[DannyG]

fuel consumption is not an issue it is the beer consumption that is the issue as the longer I am on the road the more beer I drink so I have to get to the destination as quick as possible as if I run out of beer whilst driving I will not know what to do to fill in the time.

Hahahahahaha

[johnyd]

I don't think I've ever been caught on the dirt...  I regularly drive on dirt roads, but I'd be one of the fastest in this area and it is very quiet.  If I catch someone I generally just sit back out of the dust unless they are ~30km/h+ slower than I'd go.  Normally only short trips though, longer trips I'd be wanting to pass with less speed difference.  If someone were to catch me I'd certainly move over, they'd either be insane or have a bloody good reason, either way I don't want to be in their way.

When someone is coming the other way I slow down and move over, or stop if I've got a lot of room where I am and not much where we'd be passing.

On the tar I always moved over or pulled off when on L/P plates and had to travel under the limit and there weren't any over-taking opportunities for anyone stuck behind me.  If I'm at the limit, I'll only do it if I think the person behind is either at risk of making a stupid passing move or is a danger to me being back there.  Won't bother overtaking unless there is plenty of clear open road that I can see.  Better late than late

[Ynot]

Reminds me of a story from a workmates who went out to the Birdsville races.

Coming back he got stuck behind a slow vehicle that wouldn't let him around for quite some time so he wound his Patrol  (white in colour) up and shot around the guy ending up showering that car with rocks.

He was just about to leave Windorah after fuelling up when the slow car pulled up and the driver came strutting over a bit wound up and agro.
Before this guy can say anything and Quick as a flash the patrol driver says, did you see that guy in the white patrol, drove past me at 100 mph and showered me with stones, lucky I didn't do a window!

Old mate looked at him funny and said yeh wait till I catch him, I give him what for.

[Foo]

I just love it when I have fools come towards me on narrow roads, when driving the B-double. The locals will pull off the road and the city clowns want too argue, I win.

You don't slow down coming towards me and you won't get courtesy from me, or room.

Foo

[Tjupurula]

I made my post earlier, not because I am a vigilante, nor because I want to control anyone.  Most people who travel the roads around here are either family or in laws, and the only time when they drive at crazy speeds is when they have had too much to drink.  I will never applogise for slowing them down intentionally, and the amount of times other people that have been in the car have come and thanked me has made it worthwhile.  People can make all the comments and judgements they want, but more than 90 % of the traffic around here is from the communities, Balgo, Billiluna or Mulan, and I will do anything to stop them getting hurt or killed.
Tjupurula

[lilstookie]

This is a subject that is very frustrating for me and my wife and most of the long term workers up here on the gulf.
We live 460km from the nearest consistent stretch of tar. We often travel the Bourke Dev Rd a lot.
So we know it very well , we know most of the road crews and all of the water tanker drivers.

I dont like sitting in the dust of a 4wd or even a CT when they are doing 50/60kmph on a road thats a Hwy compared to most.
I like to sit out so I can see their car and they can see me behind with my lights on. I often call them on the radio on UHF40 as the road has signs saying for travellers to use CH40 so they can hear Road trains at the call points.
Most of these guys have massive antenna on the car but failure to switch them on or use the Channel designated by the road.
These people often get a surprise when I go past and they are not expecting it.
I know the road VERY WELL. These people dont use the radio or check their mirrors......I always give everyone the opportunity to pay attention and answer their radio....most do, but some don't.

I understand some might find that annoying......but I live here and drive these roads in all manner of vehicles every day so Im aware of the conditions better than the guys dust I'm Sucking.
When country folk goto the city and often drive slower and change lanes last minute as they are not so sure about where the are going its a split second before somebody is on the horn and shouting abuse out the window as they go round ......

C'est la Vie....

[nbd73]

I made my post earlier, not because I am a vigilante, nor because I want to control anyone.  Most people who travel the roads around here are either family or in laws, and the only time when they drive at crazy speeds is when they have had too much to drink.  I will never applogise for slowing them down intentionally, and the amount of times other people that have been in the car have come and thanked me has made it worthwhile.  People can make all the comments and judgements they want, but more than 90 % of the traffic around here is from the communities, Balgo, Billiluna or Mulan, and I will do anything to stop them getting hurt or killed.
Tjupurula

That is a commendable attitude, just remember that you may not always know the other driver, or how they may react to any actions you take to "control" their driving behaviour. Maybe its different out bush, and I would certainly defer to your experience in that regard, but from what I have seen in 23 years on the roads is that any slowing, horn blowing or lane hogging is just as likely to piss the other driver off as it is likely to modify their behaviour. And pissed off drivers instigate road rage and do things that arent safe, at least from what I have seen. One of these pissed off drivers may just decide that you need behaviour modification, and even though you have done nothing wrong you may find yourself face down in the very dust you are trying to dissipate. There is always someone tougher, regardless of how well you can handle yourself, and aggravated people do unpredictable things. I have seen road rage incidents end in fist-i-cuffs, simply by way of one driver trying to teach another lesson by not letting them merge when they were trying to push in. I wish you all the best with your approach, just be mindful of the possible outcomes to it...

[Tjupurula]

That is a commendable attitude, just remember that you may not always know the other driver, or how they may react to any actions you take to "control" their driving behaviour. Maybe its different out bush, and I would certainly defer to your experience in that regard, but from what I have seen in 23 years on the roads is that any slowing, horn blowing or lane hogging is just as likely to piss the other driver off as it is likely to modify their behaviour. And pissed off drivers instigate road rage and do things that arent safe, at least from what I have seen. One of these pissed off drivers may just decide that you need behaviour modification, and even though you have done nothing wrong you may find yourself face down in the very dust you are trying to dissipate. There is always someone tougher, regardless of how well you can handle yourself, and aggravated people do unpredictable things. I have seen road rage incidents end in fist-i-cuffs, simply by way of one driver trying to teach another lesson by not letting them merge when they were trying to push in. I wish you all the best with your approach, just be mindful of the possible outcomes to it...

Out here it is very different.  If I do not know the vehicle, they can do what they please, but we do tend to know 99% of the vehicles from these communities.  I am not an aggressive person, and could not fight may way out of a wet paper bag, I do however care about the people here in the communities.
Regards
Tjupurula