Key road safety tips for travelling South Australia
- When planning a trip, plan to travel shorter distances to enjoy your journey. Driver fatigue can occur on any journey. STOP and REST at least every two hours. Change drivers, go for a walk, drink some water.
- Before setting off ensure your caravan is loaded evenly and check tyre pressures and wear. On corrugated roads slow down or you could lose control. If travelling in a convoy, keep an adequate space between vehicles to allow others to overtake. Do not park in road train bays.
- When travelling on unsealed roads, slow down and turn headlights on or stop when clouds of dust obscure your vision. Beware of approaching vehicles throwing up stones.
- Take particular care in 4 wheel drive vehicles. Know your limitations and those of the vehicle.
- When planning a trip in remote areas, remember to inform friends or relatives of when and where you are travelling. Always carry adequate fuel, water, food, spares and survival equipment and carry extra cash as some facility operators do not honour credit cards or cheques and work only on a cash only basis.
- Use only public access tracks and camping areas and travel at speeds appropriate to road conditions. Avoid wet weather driving because some roads can become impassable and dangerous in these conditions. Slow down.
- The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure issues a regular Road Condition Report with advice, warnings and special notices about roads seasonally affected by weather. The report is available at a number of service stations, roadhouses and police stations around the region. The report can also be accessed on: the 24 hour number 1300 361 033
or on the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure web-link:
- http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/quicklinks/northern_roads/northern.asp
Oodnadatta and Strzelecki Track sign advising of road conditions is at Lyndhurst. Dedicated local volunteers also post signs advising outback motorists of closures and subsequent re-openings of roads across the outback.
By planning a trip, preparing vehicles, equipment and supplies and ensuing that you are following safe practices on a trip in this scenic state, you can ensure any problems will be merely inconveniences, not life threatening.
For further information on roads contact the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure on 1300 360 067.
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