Nuccaleena

• Driving defensively on dirt roads

We spent two weeks over Christmas on the Eyre Peninsula planning a new tour for 2009. We traveled over 4500 km, around 2500 off the bitumen. One thing that became increasingly worrying and frustrating was the lack of courtesy shown by other travelers. Slowing down and moving off the crown of a dirt road has always been a habit of ours, yet we regularly found that when we moved off the centre line the oncoming vehicle immediately took over the whole road, blasting past and showering us with dust and stones. Perhaps they wondered why we didn’t wave back at them? A good friend often reminds us that common sense is not that common any more and after our recent experiences I can only continue to agree with him and remain amazed by these acts of human stupidity and lack of consideration.

So for this month, here are some tips on safe dirt road driving

• Defensive driving tips for dirt/unsealed roads

You will be using your 4WD vehicle in a wide range of operating conditions and consequently you will need to consider many things to complete your journey safely. Here are some guidelines for the majority of your driving requirements. The roads you will drive on are normally well maintained and made of gravel or compacted earth. Obviously their condition will depend on the time of year and weather. While you can probably travel comfortably at 100 km/h, on some sections there are times when you should drive to the conditions. We recommend lowering your tyre pressures when you leave the bitumen. Dropping the pressure by 25% is a good start; for example, 36 psi to 28 psi. Graded roads have a distinct crown at the centre to shed water rapidly if and when it rains. When rain does come, it is usually a torrential downpour requiring road closures to prevent surface damage by vehicles driving on the soft and muddy surface. Heavy fines normally apply if you are caught on a closed outback road. The crown also encourages drivers to use the middle of the road, pushing stones and dirt away from the centre and creating a loose surface on the sides when you move over to allow room for oncoming traffic. As you do this, your vehicle will lose some traction and braking grip and, depending on the situation, a slide is a distinct possibility, so slow down for oncoming traffic. Slowing down also reduces the risk of you propelling rocks at the windscreen of the other driver.

• Cornering on unsealed roads

Generally a clean ‘line’ can be seen. This is where traffic has swept part of the track clear of stones but, if you need to diverge from this line, a slide is on the cards. The right approach is to slow down and travel through the corner at a speed which allows you to move away safely from the clean line if required. Braking before the corner is another way of reducing the risk of a slide. Braking and turning suddenly will greatly increase the risk of an accident.

So, can I encourage you all to slow down for oncoming traffic and share the road responsibly.