Yet another fatal rollover at fraser

[FNQCairns]

Well possibly a loaded roof rack speed limit of 60km/h at least that would allow some real world free choice for who is the median individual within the traditional culture of a Fraser trip, towing a camper/trailer was never a choice I entertained on a visit to that place in the past, would have been a deal breaker for me for the lost amenity, other places fine but not there IMO.

I haven't visited for near 20 years so the greater mindset may have changed.

cheers fnq

[ozscott]

The problems for years have been usually connected with overseas visitors who have never driven a large 4wd on sand. The hire companies have road pressure air int he tyres at the high end of the range too and those hire fourbies are always getting bogged...you get sick and tired of stopping to help them - I get pissed not at them abut at the hire companies. It should be legislated that you cannot hire a vehicle on that island if you are from overseas as a tourist unless all drivers do a competency course in the vehicle to be hired..the alternative and probably the best course is to make hire vehicles non existent on the island and the tourists can take a bus...it then provides a lot less environmental impact (more controlled also) and frees up the beaches and tracks for people who, generally speaking, have half an idea of what they are doing.

The problem is I think that this Govt might just shut down all 4wding on fraser unless its by tour operators and I for one would hate to see that, and would never go back.

Cheers

[PADDLES]

i agree with you scott, i used to think that how a hire vehicle gets used was not the problem of the hire company. but my view has totally changed, they are knowingly and willingly hiring unroadworthy vehicles that they know full well will be mis-used to people that they know do not have the competence required. timi has hit the nail on the head, they need to be driven like a truck and not like a car.

i'm wondering whether beach driving should be treated like a boat license, you do a half or 1 day course in order to gain a minimum competency. you then need to show this certification in order to get a beach permit and like the permit you have to keep the certification with the permit in the vehicle for the time you are on the beach or in the national park. now for locals it is a 1 off cost unfortunately, but for tourists it is a top stumbling block to them simply getting into a dodgy troopy loading it up with 10 mates and a whole heap of krap and then hitting the beach. if you are a serious tourist you will take the time to get your competency, hire a car, get your beach permit and off you go. if you are a tourist in a hurry, you will need to hire a driver and go on an organised tour. this won't solve all the problems but will significantly reduce totally inexperienced people hitting the beach quickly.

[BenDover]

Agree with scott aswell. But GOD NOOOOO!!!!! No more changing the speed limits, and none of this 4x4 licience crap... Its still not going to change anythng, experience counts!!!!

Back packers are there for a 3 day holiday at a time. And I have done fraser to show friends over 3 days many times. You cant beat the tide and your range is very limited at 60kph. No more slower talk. My point is they are there for 3 days and then thats the end of their 4x4ing adventure, on the beach anyway. You cannot possibly get them experienced in time. Nor do they care!! And im sure the person they send to get the licience will be some tiny little girl who cant reach the pedals or see over the steering wheel, as the rest of the guys are too drunk enjoying our beautiful country. The beach's change aswell, alot softer 1 tide than another... DESIGNATED DRIVERS!!!!

Its like when mexicans (no offence) come upto queensland, drive fatigued and crash on our unfamiliar roads. Then we have the highest road toll in aus and get punished... I dont see much difference. I would HATE to see fraser shut down. Ill put the hire guys out of business before then.

[TimiBoy]

I had an interesting discussion with Mumsy on this, and came up with the following;

Currently P platers are not allowed to drive V8's or turbo cars. Add large 4WDs to the list. Can those troopies get over 60 km/h if they don't have a hairdryer fitted?

Limit foreign drivers to a P plate license.

Hire companies will be history, and, given the way they are run, I suspect that's a good thing.

I don't know how this fits with any international treaties, and how it would affect the licensing we can get overseas.

Cheers,

Tim

[FNQCairns]

A Troopy will do well over 80km/h.

What happened to that spat of hire mini bus crashs i know it's not as news worth but those things derail all the time yet no changes came to those driver licensing requirements that i know of.

cheers fnq

[sleepygreg]

Maybe just make it law that you cannot drive on fraser with an international or overseas licence.....you must have an australian licence. Might reduce the incidents by 50%....then how do we work on the other 50% that have Australian licences. I have owned and driven 4wds for the last 25 years, but have many friends and relos who could claim the same thing.....but have never had them off road...so would probably be equally as dangerous as the tourists. As for the speed limit...if you swerve or hit a wash out at 60k....wont be much different result than if you hit it at 80k...especially in a troopy with 8 people and a roof rack full of krap.

Greg

[PADDLES]

yep, probably an even better idea greg, aussie license only to get a beach permit would go a long way towards solving the problem

[ozscott]

If we wanted to make it fairer for the OS driver's that had done sand driving and bearing in mind what Greg says above about many Aust driver's not having a clue in soft sand the Govt could introduce a competency test for beach driving that would see permits issued only to those who passed a basic half hour to hour test...for us that might mean one test for life I suppose, because you never forget the way to drive on sand...so its not a biggie. If it meant still being able to drive on Fraser when I liked I would line up to do it and pay the fee.

Cheers

[TimiBoy]

If a beach permit were proposed, all would be up in arms, because it would be charged for. I think it's desireable, but I'd rather see it fit into the current system instead of being an extra level of regulation.

Cheers,

Tim

[jimbamb]

Mr bean,
From my experience the worst offenders( speeding passing wrong side wont give way) are tour operators and the people delivering supplies as you mention.They are closely followed by loonies in hire vehicles who think it is cool to drive in surf and do donuts with a vehicle full of friends(NOT ONLY O/S ones)
All the legislation in the world won't stop people doing stupid things as soon as they think they can get away with it. hence no seatbelts and overloading with people,it is also commom practice to let others drive even tho there are SUPPOSED to be a designated driver.
Hire companies do not allow tyres to be lowered hence they get bogged regularly.
Even O/S visitors get pumped up when driving a 4by especially young males
Just my thoughts
Jim

[ozscott]

Tim - your right and we dont ever want to see the Govt obtaining yet more measures over our rights, but I am really worried that this Govt is going to simply ban all but tourist operators on Fraser (although at the moment we are probably safe because even though there is no opposition that wont stop Bligh losing the election if she is not REALLY careful).

Cheers

[cormorant]

If we wanted to make it fairer for the OS driver's that had done sand driving and bearing in mind what Greg says above about many Aust driver's not having a clue in soft sand the Govt could introduce a competency test for beach driving that would see permits issued only to those who passed a basic half hour to hour test...for us that might mean one test for life I suppose, because you never forget the way to drive on sand...so its not a biggie. If it meant still being able to drive on Fraser when I liked I would line up to do it and pay the fee.

Cheers

We have the technology.

Every hire 4wd to be fitted with a tracker , log , live and downloadable or even a camera like the taxis.. Will stop some of the speeding and stupidity

All people in hire vehicles and others who want to should have tp watch a 20 minute video on th erights and wrongs on Fraser and beach driving and a bit about cleaning up, dingo etc. That video should be in several languages and include footage of accidents and people involved interviewed. They should make sure that they are made aware the beach is a road and police are out there.

All rental 4wd should have the designated driver and one passenger do a 15 minute drive test around on the sand by a experienced expert driver in his car to demonstrate the danger and a few safe driving techniques and a lot of common sense.

Shame anyone ever gets hurt in such a great spot.

Vehicles that are not up to standard for hire should get massive fines - large enough to ensure thatit is not worth the 4wd companies leting them be hired. Some of teh tyres and spares I have seen up there are a accident waiting to happen or is it a hire companies extra income to put old ones on and let them pop?? and a tourist gets billed for a new one- nice scam.

Govt should wake up to itself.

[mitch92]

I had an interesting discussion with Mumsy on this, and came up with the following;

Currently P platers are not allowed to drive V8's or turbo cars. Add large 4WDs to the list. Can those troopies get over 60 km/h if they don't have a hairdryer fitted?

Limit foreign drivers to a P plate license.

Hire companies will be history, and, given the way they are run, I suspect that's a good thing.

I don't know how this fits with any international treaties, and how it would affect the licensing we can get overseas.

Cheers,

Tim

Tim

P Platers Can drive a turbo vehicle, but only so long as it is diesel powered, If it is petrol then definitely not allowed to drive with turbo.


Mitch

P.s I dont know wehter you were talking about petrol or diesel just thought i'd throw it up anyway

P.p.s The tourists on fraser need to have some way of proving themselves being able to drive there before being allowed, accidents way to often

[TimiBoy]

Tim

P Platers Can drive a turbo vehicle, but only so long as it is diesel powered, If it is petrol then definitely not allowed to drive with turbo.


Mitch

Thanks Mitch, I didn't know that. On checking, I find you are correct! The 'Cruiser is safe from the kids, courtesy of being a V8...

Cheers,

Tim