4WD Tips from Rob Ackland, Red Earth Expeditions, No. 1

We’re very excited to be starting a regular 4WD segment with the help of Rob Ackland from Red Earth Expeditions. Rob is an experienced 4WD tour guide/trainer with plenty of tips and advice for all you adventure seekers out there! The Flinders Ranges is a renowned 4WD region boasting some of Australia’s most challenging 4WD tracks. There are a diverse variety of tracks throughout the region with varying degrees of difficulty, all of which showcase our spectacular scenery. Why not get out there and have a look for your self?!

Rob Ackland’s 4WD Tip’s:

I was recently coming back from the Flinders Ranges after a busy long weekend and found I was constantly coming up behind groups of vehicles traveling below the speed limit, no problem with that. But they were all bunched up and traveling so close together that any vehicle wanting to overtake could do nothing but try and get past the group in one go.

Our driver training and education program focuses on getting drivers to understand the keys to safe driving behavior which can be used any time and anywhere. So I thought it may be worth sharing them in the interests of safe driving. They apply to all drivers and vehicles regardless of if they are being used on roads or off-road.

Five keys to being a good driver:

  1. Aim high in steering and look well ahead. Look in the direction you want the vehicle to go, especially in bends and corners.
  2. Constantly scan. Don’t fix your eyes on any single object for more than about two seconds. Keep moving your eyes from object to object or you may miss something.
  3. Get the big picture. By scanning as far forward and to the edges of your peripheral vision you are checking the far, middle and near distances continuously and adjusting your driving as you travel down the road or track. This includes regularly checking all mirrors.
  4. Be seen. Engage eye contact with other drivers. Use signals in plenty of time so they are understood. Wherever possible, do not travel in another vehicle’s blind spot. We recommend driving with your lights on low beam anywhere and everywhere.
  5. Have an escape plan/route. Maintain a following distance of at least 3 seconds. Not only does this allow you to look further up the road, it also gives you an escape route if something unexpected happens.

Cheers, Rob