DRIVINGINTHEMIDWEST

Currentasatthe21thJanuary2014

WelcometoGeraldton

OneofthegreatopportunitieswehavewhenweliveintheMidwestisaccesstothe bush,unsealedroads,magnificentsceneryandthesenseoffreedomandadventure thatcomeswith that.

Wegettoknow,andfeelagrowingconnection tothe place.

Drivingisanintegralpartofbeingabletoaccessthisopportunityandisavalued activity in the RCSWA.

Unfortunatelydrivingisalsoariskyundertakingandweneedtounderstandand respectthis.A numberofstudentsand staffoverthe pastdecade have hitkangaroos andemus.ElsewhereinthestateRCSWAstaffandstudentshavelostfriendsor colleaguesto crashes.

ThispolicymustbeadheredtoforALLtripswhileintheRCSWA,andreadin conjunction with the RCSWAdrivingpolicyand thetwo relevantUWA policies:

AND

On EVERY trip,the RCSWArequires:

  • Asafe vehicle
  • Asafedriver
  • Aresponsible driving plan
  • Completed vehiclechecklistto behandedtoAdministrative Officerprior toleaving– seeattached

A safevehicle:

RCSWAcars and 4WD:

TheRCSWA isresponsible forensuringthevehicleisroad-worthy,andappropriately fittedout.Thedriverisresponsibleforcheckingtyres,oil,waterandnotingany changeinconditionthatmayindicateaproblem.Ifyounoteanyconcernsrelatingto thesafetyofanRCSWAvehiclepleasecontactyourlocaladministrativepersonas soon aspossible.

All RCSWA vehicles arecovered bya roadsideassistprogramme(RAC).

InGeraldton,we currentlyhave a ToyotaKluger,a 7seater4WD.

Private vehicles:

Theownerisresponsibleforensuringtheirvehicleisroad-worthy,andappropriately fittedout.

Allvehiclesleavingthetownboundarymustbeingoodmechanicalconditionand musthave:

  • Goodtyres
  • A roadworthysparetyre(two ifgoinglongdistances on unsealedroads)
  • 5Lwater/person /day,includingsomeina containerthatcan becarried with you ifyou needto leave the vehicle
  • Maps/navigation aid
  • Communicationdevice (e.g.mobile phoneand charger)
  • A toolkitforthe car,includingaworkingjack
  • Smallfirstaidkit
  • A blanketandtorch

Pre-travel vehicle check:

Beforeeverytrip,ensurethevehicleisfitforthejourney(byvisualinspection, checkinggauges,checking oil,waterandtyres).

A safedriver:

Aswith all drivers,staffand studentsmusthave avalid driver’s licence and adhere to all trafficregulations. Alwaysweara seatbelt.

Obeyallroadsigns!Inparticular,temporarysignssuchas‘roadclosed’orsigns relatedto dangers orroad workahead.

Preparing for travel on countryand remote roads:

  • All studentsmustpassthe pre-RCSWADrivingcourse.
  • All students and staff must complete an “Assessment of country driving experience”form when commencing with theRCSWA.Thisform will be

reviewedandsignedoffbytheleadMC/administratorineachsite.Ifareas ofconcernarenoted,thesewillbediscussedandanindividualplancreated

to addressconcerns.

  • Eachsitewillhaveadiscussionaboutdrivingrisksandsafetytipsspecificto theregion in orientationweek.

No RCSWAstafforstudentispermittedtodrive if:

  • Tired
  • Underthe influenceofalcoholordrugs

A safejourneyplan:

Particular risks tonotewhen drivingin the Midwest:

Risk / Relevantinformation / measures
Unsealed
roads / •Slowdown-reduce yourspeedtosuitthe conditions.There is less traction ongravelroadsand itiseasierto lose control,
comparedtodrivingonabitumensurface.
•Engaging4-wheeldrivewhen drivingon unsealed roads improves traction and providesmore control.
•Iftrafficsignswarnofagravelroad ahead,slowdownwhile still
on thebitumen.
•On unsealedroads,followtyretrackswhereverpossible-thiswill provide firmerground.Keep awayfromthe loosesand orgravel on theedge oftheroad – maygetboggedorlose control.
•Slowdown moreforcorners– loose surfacereduces traction– veryeasyto lose control.
•ABS willworkdifferentlyongravelandmay increase yourbraking
distance.Ifyou have tobrake heavilybe awareofthe difference in the brakingsensationofABS.
•Considerusinga lowergearwhen drivingtoassistwith braking.
•Avoid sudden braking orchangeofdirection–risksloss of control.
•Watchfordustahead -oncoming vehicle,orcoming up behind a
vehicle-headlightson lowbeamwhen drivingindust.
•Slowrightdown andkeep leftonthe approachtoblind corners and crests– otherdriversmaynotbecarefulon roads used less
often.
Damaged
roads and other
hazards / •Drive slowlyand especiallycarefullyafterheavy rain aswash outsand largeholes canappearunexpectedly.
•Be carefulofdeeptyre tracks andrutsfromheavyuse of unsealed roads/tracks
Road
trains(up to 53m long) / •Road trainsareacommon sightingonourroads
•Road trainsrequireconsiderable stopping/breaking distance, need extraroomonthe road and are sometimesslowmoving.
•Be patient.
•Do notattemptto overtakenearjunctions-road trains may requiretwo lanesin ordertoturn.
•Ensuretheroad ahead isclearwhen overtaking.
•Overtakequickly;don'thesitate.
•Make allowancesforthewind buffeting yourcarasyou pass.
•Allowthe road train toremain onthe bitumen,ifthe road is narrowand itissafeto do so. Minimises flyingdebris and dust.
•Do notpulloutonto aroad when aroad train is approaching.
•Ifaroadtrain isapproaching fromthe opposite direction andthe road is narrow,slowrightdown and pull overoffthe bitumento let itpass.
Animals
on the road
(stockand
wildlife) / •Kangaroosandemuscan appearverysuddenlyrightinfrontof yourcar.Thismayhappen atanytimeofthedayornightbutin
particulararounddawn and dusk.
•RCSWA vehicles arenottobe driven outside oftowns in the northofWAbetween dusk /dawn– anybreachofthisrulewill be
treated veryseriously.
•Don'tswervetomissananimal-youmay lose controlofthe vehicle.Slowdownas much as possible and stop,ifnecessary,
until theroad isclear. Betterto hittheanimalifyou can’tstop
thantokill yourselforyourpassengers.
•Be mindfulthatthese animalsmay liveveryclose to orin small towns aswell as bush areas
Travelling
on remote roads / •Alwaysletsomeoneknow where you aregoingand your
anticipated arrivaltime.(Call ortextimmediatelywhen you getto yourdestination)
•Carryappropriate equipment,plentyofwaterand alsofood(if somethinggoeswrongyou can bestuckforlong periodsin remote locations)
Extremes
ofweather (eg heat,
floods,
cyclones) /
  • Getuptodateinformationfromlocalshiresaboutcurrentroad and weatherconditions.
  • warnings
  • Inland roadsmaybe closed duetoflooding afterlocal heavyrain
Heavy Rain:
  • Slowdown orstop,lightson lowbeam, wipersonhigh speed.
  • Maycauseflashflooding– watchforwateronroad

Bushfire / Fires movefastandareunpredictable:
  • Ensure headlightsareon lowbeam.
  • Windup windows;engage therecycle optionforairconditioning.
  • Followadvice ofpolice orfirefightersifpresent.
  • Remain awayfromthefire until safeto passthrough.
  • Smoke canobscure oncoming vehicles sodrive with care.

Driving
intothe sun / •Plan yourtriptoavoid drivingintothe sunifpossible.
•Wearsunglasses
•Slowdown asvisibilitymaybe impaired
•Putyourlightsonto lowbeam
•Make sureyourwindscreen is clean.
•Takeextreme care ifyou have to overtake,and with animals crossing theroad duetoreduced visibility.
•Ifnecessarystopuntil the sun hasgonedown sufficientlyso that
itissafetoresumedriving.
Breaking
down/ FlatTyre /
  • Ifyoubreakdown,STAYwithyourvehicle.Itwillbeyour shelter/security and as well as being more visible should a
search beneeded.
  • Do notattemptto open a radiatorofa vehicle tocheckforwater iftheengineishot. Leavefor severalhours tocoolbefore opening.
  • Takecarewhenchangingflattyresthatyourvehicleisona stable base.
  • Engineturnedoffandpassengersoutofvehicle.
  • Hand brakeon andcaringear(orParkforautomatic).
  • Puta block/rockbehindand infrontofotherwheels.
  • Loosen thenutsofflatwheelbeforejacking up.
  • Havethesparewheelreadytoputonbeforejackingup
car.
  • Make surejackisincorrectposition sothatitcan’tslip.
  • Re-tightenwheelnutsoncejackisletdown,andre-checkat50
km.
No mobile
coverage /
  • Thinkaboutmobilecoverageintheareayouwillbevisiting.Itis commonforthetownsthemselvestohavemobilecoveragebut
thesignalmaybelostinbetween.NotethatthetownofYalgoo
does NOT have mobile reception.
  • Thinkaboutwhetheranotherdeviceisrequired(e.g.satphone, UHFradio,GPStrackingdevice).Discusswithyourmedical coordinatorifuncertain.

Injury/
illness on the road /
  • Makesureeveryone(notjusttheinjured)isprotectedfromthe elements,rig up shade orraincoverandprovide water.
  • Hotground/roads can cause burns to people lyingon the ground
– ensure injured peopleareona safesurface.
  • Usemobileorsatellitephoneifthereiscoverage.Coverage maybe betterona hill.ActivateEPIRB ifavailable.
  • Ifthereisnosatelliteormobilecoverageandthereismorethan onevehicletravellingsendsomeone to nearest
station/settlementwith information ofdistance,(location)number
ofinjured orpeople involved
  • Ifthereisnocoverageandyouhaveletsomeoneknow thetime ofyourarrivalthen bepreparedto wait.
  • Looseobjectsmaybecomelethalprojectilesduringanaccident.
Putthose items in theboot.
Long trips / 
 / Don’tdrive morethan 10hoursperday Don’tdrive when you aretired
 / Share drivingwith others
 / Plan a stopatleasteverythree hoursfor20minutes.
 / Don’tplantodriveafteraday’sworkorafterbeingupatnight forobstetrics/emergencies.
 / Plan to have agoodnight’ssleep beforeyougo.
 / Ifyou feelsleepy whiledriving,itis bettertopulloffthe roadand
take ashortbreakornap.