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Post by yobarr on May 18, 2024 10:36:32 GMT 10
As I travel across Australia I often see caravanners doing inexplicable things, but last week I saw something that needs addressing.
Travelling in the other direction I encountered a convoy of no fewer than 7 caravans lined up, with no more than 15 metres between them, travelling at the break-neck speed of 80kmh.
Rather than using the truckies channel (40) to discuss where to next stop for tea and bikkies, these clowns would be far better occupied concentrating on staying at least 100 metres behind the preceding vehicle, allowing overtaking vehicles room to merge.
As for trying to overtake such idiots when driving a heavy vehicle, forget it.
Seems common sense is no longer common.
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Post by magnarc on May 18, 2024 11:04:20 GMT 10
As I travel across Australia I often see caravanners doing inexplicable things, but last week I saw something that needs addressing. Travelling in the other direction I encountered a convoy of no fewer than 7 caravans lined up, with no more than 15 metres between them, travelling at the break-neck speed of 80kmh. Rather than using the truckies channel (40) to discuss where to next stop for tea and bikkies, these clowns would be far better occupied concentrating on staying at least 100 metres behind the preceding vehicle, allowing overtaking vehicles room to merge. As for trying to overtake such idiots when driving a heavy vehicle, forget it. Seems common sense is no longer common. Have to ask you Chris, if you were travelling in the opposite direction, how did you know that they were travelling at 80kph? |
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Post by yobarr on May 18, 2024 12:29:31 GMT 10
As I travel across Australia I often see caravanners doing inexplicable things, but last week I saw something that needs addressing. Travelling in the other direction I encountered a convoy of no fewer than 7 caravans lined up, with no more than 15 metres between them, travelling at the break-neck speed of 80kmh. Rather than using the truckies channel (40) to discuss where to next stop for tea and bikkies, these clowns would be far better occupied concentrating on staying at least 100 metres behind the preceding vehicle, allowing overtaking vehicles room to merge. As for trying to overtake such idiots when driving a heavy vehicle, forget it. Seems common sense is no longer common. Have to ask you Chris, if you were travelling in the opposite direction, how did you know that they were travelling at 80kph? Hi Phil, After many years driving Roadtrains and the like for 14hrs/day it becomes very easy to estimate the speed of approaching vehicles. There also are many indicators pointing to what sort of "driver" is at the wheel. In addition, the queue of motorists behind these clowns is an indication that they were travelling at a speed much lower than the limit. |
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Post by magnarc on May 19, 2024 8:20:19 GMT 10
14 hours a day mate. I hope that you have two logbooks!!!!!!!
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Post by yobarr on May 19, 2024 10:07:32 GMT 10
14 hours a day mate. I hope that you have two logbooks!!!!!!! Hi Phil. Two log books? Wouldn't dream of that, of course! Good point, but I have a 14 hour licence which allows me to legally work 14 hours/day. Subject to actual hours entered in log book I can work 12 days straight and then must have 2 days off. But that is only on paper, and there are many ways of doing "Dodgey Bros" stuff to work longer. Some drivers regularly work 18 hour days with no problem, but I'm getting a bit old for that stuff. However, that can't be done where there are point-to-point cameras and the like, but in the back of beyond it's easy. Long distance truck driving is very tedious, but I try to stay under 1000km/ day doing a couple of 500km round trips daily. Loading and unloading breaks the tedium. Cheers |
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Post by Mike Harding on May 19, 2024 14:46:13 GMT 10
Unfortunately, in Australia, the practice of leaving an adequate space between you and the vehicle you are following is a largely unknown and untested concept.
When towing the van I usually travel at 90kph (true speed) because that feels stable and controllable to me. I actually become embarrassed when another car/caravan is directly behind me and he's directly followed by a truck. The car/caravan won't overtake until he sees 5km of straight, clear road and the truck cannot overtake because the stupid caravan driver is too close to me and the truck cannot overtake two car/caravan combinations at the same time. In such situations I call the truck on UHF CB and say "Don't blame me. We're not travelling together."
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al42
New Member
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Post by al42 on May 19, 2024 17:19:22 GMT 10
You can leave a safe traveling space between you and the vehicle in front,and then someone too impatient jumps in between.
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Post by yobarr on May 19, 2024 17:59:55 GMT 10
Unfortunately, in Australia, the practice of leaving an adequate space between you and the vehicle you are following is a largely unknown and untested concept. When towing the van I usually travel at 90kph (true speed) because that feels stable and controllable to me. I actually become embarrassed when another car/caravan is directly behind me and he's directly followed by a truck. The car/caravan won't overtake until he sees 5km of straight, clear road and the truck cannot overtake because the stupid caravan driver is too close to me and the truck cannot overtake two car/caravan combinations at the same time. In such situations I call the truck on UHF CB and say "Don't blame me. We're not travelling together." Years ago a dear friend, now deceased, stated that traffic holdups on the highway always are caused by the second vehicle in the queue. Your thoughts would concur with his, and this definitely is the problem. Today I had exactly the same happen with me when some dipstick in a car and caravan tucked in about 15 metres behind me and proceeded to travel at the same speed (90kmh +/-) as I was travelling at. Quickly a convoy developed so I stopped at the first opportunity to let others overtake. |
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Post by bluesman on Jun 2, 2024 10:00:53 GMT 10
yobarr , you are so thoughtful.
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rgren2
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by rgren2 on Jun 2, 2024 19:10:27 GMT 10
Here I was, behind a road train, slipstreaming away, saving fuel, minding my own business, and the road train pulled off the road. Had to work hard then to maintain my speed.  |
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Post by magnarc on Jun 3, 2024 7:24:57 GMT 10
Here I was, behind a road train, slipstreaming away, saving fuel, minding my own business, and the road train pulled off the road. Had to work hard then to maintain my speed. Never admit guilt rgren. Welcome to the forum. |
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Post by peter57 on Jun 3, 2024 10:22:07 GMT 10
Here I was, behind a road train, slipstreaming away, saving fuel, minding my own business, and the road train pulled off the road. Had to work hard then to maintain my speed. X2  |
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Post by yobarr on Jun 3, 2024 10:48:02 GMT 10
Here I was, behind a road train, slipstreaming away, saving fuel, minding my own business, and the road train pulled off the road. Had to work hard then to maintain my speed. Ah Ha! So you're one of the many who tuck in under my last trailer to get a tow to save a dollar/day! Doesn't bother me too much, but I do wonder how quick their reactions would be if I had to make an emergency stop? Granted, 120 ton Roadtrains don't stop on a penny, but I suspect that even so, there still would be a few bent front-ends on cars if they hit the back of the last trailer. Many of the cars and caravans that I encounter are clearly not at all well set up, would not behave nicely in a sudden stop, and would quickly go RSup if an avoidance manoeuvre was undertaken. But maybe not because their drivers all will tell us that they "Drive to the conditions Mate. Just godda drive to the conditions." After salvaging hundreds of caravans, perhaps Mr Clayton would dispute that claim? |
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Post by yobarr on Jun 3, 2024 10:50:36 GMT 10
yobarr , you are so thoughtful. Thanks for your kind thoughts! Always I try to facilitate the driving intentions of other drivers. |
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rgren2
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by rgren2 on Jun 3, 2024 12:33:27 GMT 10
If I had my caravan you wouldn’t see me. I’d be pulled over somewhere taking it easy. The sale of the caravan is still a very raw wound.  |
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