774 Melbourne Focused on GREY NOMADS

Plendo · Guru

774 Melbourne Focused on GREY NOMADS

dazren · Guru

Wow thats a change ?? might tune in to hear a bit ?? I normally do not listen to 774 or watch ABC as it is always full of ALP Propaganda

GaryKelly · Guru

I bet Julia Gillard wishes the ABC was always full of ALP propaganda.

Wombat 280 · Guru

Not all but some grey nomads are shocking drivers some remind of the latest Honda add and we all wear the tag for the few

aussietraveller · Guru

And what age group is it that has the most crashes and are stopped by the police most often certainly on Grey Nomads.

Who is it that pops pills whilst driving to stay awake.

kandagal · Guru

But it was a 'truck driver' who came through a stop sign without looking or stopping 2 weeks ago & wiped out our Suzuki.

Wombat 280 · Guru

Still reckon the truckie has a point, you have to admit some Nomads should not be out their their even a traffic risk on mopeds with their force shield waving in the breeze as they jump low gutters. You can be a danger at any speed but then there is jut down right dangerous when you make no attempt to keep up with the traffic flow or try tugging a van of any size with an unsuitable vehicle.

I recently followed a couple of vans in convoy just out of Dubbo jabbering to each other about bugger all on the CB doing all of 70 kph but as soon as I tried to make contact to say I was coming by the network went silent, so even when having the means of communications at their finger tips they still refuse to confirm their intentions regarding allowing me to come by . Why they put extra mirrors on their tug has me beat they never seem to look into them

-- Edited by Wombat 280 on Monday 10th of June 2013 10:19:05 PM

GaryKelly · Guru

The logic seems kinda weird to me. If all Grey Nomads are crook drivers, what kind of drivers were they before they became Grey Nomads? Or is it just that they went unnoticed by truckies when they weren't grey or nomadic?

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Good points there from Kadangal and GaryKelly!!!!!
Hearing some of these truck drivers on the CB makes your hair curl!!! And the tailgating they do - pouring rain coming down the Bruce Highway today, there was a lot of tailgating and speeding by trucks - one guy amost collected a car, then sped on and into the next servo - go figure!

Plendo · Guru

Sorry I short changed you all this morning as I types a couple of short lines as I rushed out the door.

The Truckie actually stated that there was a huge increase in the number of caravans on the road, and that while most were being well driven, some were downright dangerous as they wander along at 80kph more interested on saving fuel than being considerate to other road users. He made it clear that he was seeing many dangerous situations caused by these drivers as others were forced to take risks. He made the point that if they were unable to drive at traffic speeds, then maybe it was time for them to consider if they should be driving at all.

I am just the messenger, don't shoot the messenger.

The second part of the session was a joint interview with two gentlemen, one from the CMCA, and the other from a Queensland Uni representing a tourism body in Queensland.

Much more positive, stressing the size of the industry, the value to local communities, the total value to Australia, etc. Also mentioned the value of the mobile bank accounts. There was a little bit on how some of the community are living on lower budgets (pensions), but the general feel was that the flock had money to spend.
This was reinforced by a couple of callers, who were talking about the expensive tourism options they were participating in.

There was also a mention about the lack of rest areas, and the cost of caravan parks, and especially the cost of high service parks, where the self contained units just do not need the high level of service

Overall positive, a negative around the driving, and maybe that is something that we do need to take on board.

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

I would rather be the passenger driven by a Grey Nomad any day in deference to a 20 year old, or even a "Professional" Truckie....with the greyness comes a certain responsibility for self preservation when driving....we've seen and heard everything when you get to our age....I wont be exceeding 85Kph towing my rig for either demographic group or the Police or the Pope......so do go ahead and do your worst on us....reduced hearing can be a pleasure at times, I find......Hoo Roo

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

jules47 wrote:
Good points there from Kadangal and GaryKelly!!!!!
Hearing some of these truck drivers on the CB makes your hair curl!!! And the tailgating they do - pouring rain coming down the Bruce Highway today, there was a lot of tailgating and speeding by trucks - one guy amost collected a car, then sped on and into the next servo - go figure!

he went into the servo to change his underwear biggrin

George · Veteran Member

As a fuel tanker driver local and interstate, I do not own the road, full stop. I go up a hill slowly, people see this and go around me. They accept me for what I am. I come to a slow driver, simple, there are overtaking lanes I go around them. I accept them for what they are.
The trucker who was complaining, should get another job if he's not happy. But remember folks......speed kills....take care out there!!

Cheers,
George

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

geojen wrote:
As a fuel tanker driver local and interstate, I do not own the road, full stop. I go up a hill slowly, people see this and go around me. They accept me for what I am. I come to a slow driver, simple, there are overtaking lanes I go around them. I accept them for what they are.
The trucker who was complaining, should get another job if he's not happy. But remember folks......speed kills....take care out there!!

Cheers,
George

most truckie's think the same but there is the odd cowboy out there, I always see them in my rear camera and have a chat while waiting for a place for them to overtake and help them around our rig.

BruDi · Senior Member

I read these comments with amazement sometimes. The speed limit is just that, the limit. If a driver wants to go slower so be it, but they also need to ensure they pull over and let others pass. We tend not to travel at a greater speed than about 90km/hour when towing our van. We never go above 100km/hour. I find if the person I am following is constant in their speed I can deal with it and pass when a suitable time occurs. I don't like the drivers who fluctuate because you never know what they will do.

We're more than happy to get out of the way of truckies as they're working to a schedule. Most truckies are good, most caravanners are good, in fact many drivers are. There will always be the dills unfortunately and we have to live with that. Many people are city drivers and it takes them awhile to adjust to country driving.

Last major trip we did with our van we had our windscreen smashed by a low loader speeding through roadworks and throwing stones and gravel everywhere. He'd been advised to slow down by the traffic controller and ssured them he would; never happened.

Di