Country Driving

LTejas57 on 27/08/2016 - 23:58

Due to family reasons i've had to do the drive between Brisbane and Sydney 4 times in the last 10 days. Normally i'd fly but with the issue i've been dealing with it's so much easier to drive (and i've been catching up on my audible collection in the car as a bonus)

In the cities i've generally had no issues - in the country though I've had some near misses - one car actually crossed to the wrong side of the road on a blind corner and almost went head on into me.

i'm not sure if it's because it was a wicked camper but it seems like the issues I have seen and been involved in are backpackers - they generally have those oval country code stickers on the cars or drive those converted vans that have beds and stuff in them.

anyone else have a similar experience?

Automotive

Comments

  • captobvious on 28/08/2016 - 01:44
    +1

    yes back packers are the worst drivers. Normally european so they dont quite understand how to use a round about (its like driving in paris around the arc du triomphe and its a free for all). I drive accross the country a fair bit and there are nothing but wicked campers doing the wrong thing. They swerve from the far side of the street to the other just to turn causing accidents in their path.

  • Euphemistic on 28/08/2016 - 07:17
    +2

    I've driven thousands of country kms in my driving life. Not so much in the last few years, but I'd much rather drive in the country than in the city.

  • oscargamer on 28/08/2016 - 08:17
    +5

    moved from the city to the country 4 years ago

    when things go wrong on country roads, they tend to go very wrong, given the generally higher speeds, longer distances driven (fatigue), poorer roads and tourists

  • Mumbles on 28/08/2016 - 12:33
    +1

    … one car actually crossed to the wrong side of the road on a blind corner and almost went head on into me.

    I'm a long time mountain driver and just accept its a normal part of life that tourists from the city can't drive country roads. They lack skill, confidence and local road knowledge. I only worry when it rains because the inexperienced drivers can drive beyond their tyre's limits and slide off the road in front of you.

    20 years ago the roads had higher death tolls, tyre technology was worse, cars had less sportier suspension, ABS brakes were not mandatory. Half the cars would drive across the centre line on corners.

    If you are a driver who worries about blind corners here a few of my suggestions:
    - Drive on the B-roads. Tourists from the cities stick to easy roads that are popular or guided by GPS. For Brisbane to Sydney there's often a road running parallel to the highway. A coastal road through the towns or an inland route. Local drivers are way safer than tourist drivers.
    - Buy a narrower car. You'll feel a lot less stressed knowing your car has lots of space around it for the dangerous or wide vehicles to get past you.
    - Change your cornering line to drive closer to the inside of a corner. On very mountainous roads it is safe to drive on the inside shoulder as the debris has been cleared by the freight trucks and locals who drive aggressive racing lines.
    - During night driving learn to drive using high beams. If you're really talented you can dip your headlights just before the oncoming car crests or rounds the corner. An attentive speeding driver usually notices the change in light as a car.
    - On dirt roads its acceptable to toot the horn before arriving at a blind corner. It will alert oncoming 4WD's that your around the corner.

    • mskeggs on 29/08/2016 - 10:55
      +1
      • Drive on the B-roads.

      I can't recommend this more strongly. You can avoid much traffic, many speed cameras and usually see a nicer bit of scenery, and the worst case is it might take an extra 15mins.
      On the Sydney-Brissy trip they even signpost the inland route as an alternative, and from memory it is about 2% longer, if that.

  • Savas on 28/08/2016 - 18:09

    No

  • inherentchoice on 29/08/2016 - 09:15
    +1

    Most of the Pacific Highway between Brisbane and Sydney is freeway conditions so it's not exactly a 'country road' or 'country driving'?

    As at 31 May 2016, 77.6% of the route is motorway or dual carriageway, 12.2% is in the process of being constructed to motorway/dual carriageway and 11.3% is single carriageway. Source

    Or are you talking about going via the New England Highway which is mostly single carriageway and goes through the middle of most towns (without bypassing). I would've thought the New England Highway will have way less backpacker vans.

  • tonyjzx on 29/08/2016 - 18:11

    I havent seen much oddness in my regional driving adventures.

    Just mass boredom and assfaces who sit at 110km/h in the right hand lane.

    And worrying about the weird ass speed enforcement measures like time camera intervals and 'pigs in space' flight monitoring.

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