However, I think the problem may be that many of "we Grey Nomads" are "city folk" who have not been caravanners and have done little 'touring'. Now retired, buy a 4x4 and big van and hit the road - so romantic.
Add to this that they quite probably do not realise why the 'Safety Ramps' are there - as they are not aware of the limitations of truck's brakes and big loads.
I know it seems incongruous, but I believe that could be it. Many I have met have been, as the yank would say, "greenhorns"
Makes ya wanna stop and tell them the significance.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Could always be worse. Someone parked on a safety ramp near the Colo River, pulled out a table and chairs and had a picnic in the middle of the ramp. Definitely not Grey Nomads.
I think you may find that all those who drive their vans and 4x4s all over the place, be it for 2, 3, 4 or more months each year, all think of themselves as Grey Nomads.
The term (description?) has been taken on board by so many now - some see it as a "badge of honour".
Doesn't mean a "traveller" any more apparently - just old farts with van and tug and on the road for a jaunt.
and as a rough stab, there are 98% of these Grey Nomads who are NOT on this forum
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
This Thread reminds me of another similar incident ...that...apart from the stupidity of it ....ended up being quite funny.
I was doing my usual Orange-Sydney-Orange run a few years ago...and after a meal break at Mt Victoria Truck Stop..was ambling down Mount Vic pass at my usual 30 k/hour (Truck speed limit was 40...low gear area) and as usual being overtaken by the odd brain dead cowboy sitting on his brakes...rounded the second last big sweeper from the bottom ...and here was a ute parked neatly smack bang in the entrance of the safety ramp..couldn't believe my eyes!!!Went around the bend with horn full blast..and continued on towards Hartley...where our friendly ? highway patrol was sitting in the middle of. Pulled over and walked back and informed him of the ute....and...to his credit ...took off back to the safety ramp pretty smartly.
Never herd anymore about it till the next night at mount Vic servo ...when the attendant was telling a few of us about the cop that nabbed a ute parked in the safety ramp...apparently 2 people in it going for it completely naked..lol. I cracked up completely and there were a few cracks n quips being bandied about the fact of a good hit if a truck had ran into them at exactly the ..errr..right time......
Just shows the mental capacity of some people hey.
I agree, not the done thing or safe HOWEVER, I zoomed in on the pic and if you look at the front van it leans to the left, just maybe that van had a blow out or suspension problem and that was the only place they could stop. I don't know the road but does't look to have wayside stops. The van at back might have been travelling with the front van and helping.
Yes, not safe but maybe the safer option at the time.
I have my warriors gathered around me for protection
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Without all the facts it is hard to comment, as we all know it shouldn't be done, but we don't know these circumstances.
It could also be noted that the driver of the heavy vehicle who took the photo should have been concentrating on driving at the time, if this is in an area that is dangerous and necessitates the installation of safety ramps!
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done!
It is always problematic attempting to figure out what was the best action to take when one needs to pull over for some reason.
However, whether 20 year old overseas tourist or a 70 year old Strayan traveller there was no need to completely block the safety ramp.
Perhaps this could give some inkling of possible alternate parking decisions.
If the leading van had just gone forward two or three metres they would have been sufficiently clear of the safety ramp but still have some space to change the tyre (if that was the reason for stopping).
And their mate could have pulled up before the broken line indicating entry to the safety ramp - again keeping the entry to the safety ramp clear and still been sufficiently off the traffic line.
Who knows - just takes some thought before just pulling up.
[edit: of course, hindsight is such a valuable asset - but surely the thought of a 42-tonne of truck running up my rear would have caused me to not put my van and vehicle at jeopardy ... let alone the life of myself or family. Hopefully, at least every GN Forum member who has read/viewed/commented on this thread will be more aware of the danger of emulating these folk.]
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Friday 15th of May 2015 09:27:27 AM
If a truck had an emergency situation that required the use of that safety ramp, and couldn't because those morons were parked there, lives could easily have been lost. There is no excuse for stopping there under any circumstances... Period... End of story! You can see that there's plenty of room to stop off the road immediately before the dotted line, which would enable a stricken truck to use the ramp.
If the front van had a flat tyre, then they should've pulled up before the ramp or crawled to safe alternative spot, better he should destroy his tyre and rim than to put lives at risk.
Safety ramps have been around for as long as most, if not all of us have been alive. We knew what they were when we were kids... it's pretty damned obvious what they're for the first time you see one. If their brains function well enough that they can drive, then they knew what they were doing but didn't consider the possible ramifications.
If the worst had happened, and lives were lost, those drivers, if still alive would have been facing manslaughter charges.
End of rant
Cheers, Steve.
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Cheers, Steve.
"Any day above ground is a good day... unless you're a spelunker :)"
Then again, maybe they were being courteous and just pulled over to let faster traffic to overtake. mmmmmmm?????
I reckon you're probably correct as there is no indication the vehicles are stopped. If the pic was taken from a truck then possibly they slowed and pulled over to let him past.
They haven't pulled over to let traffic go past, if you zoom in you can see someone standing in the table drain up at the leading van, mighty Dangerious. Although the first van is on a big lean.I think if a Truck has to use the run off while they are there, there could be more than a flat tyre.
Lance C
-- Edited by Olley46 on Friday 15th of May 2015 03:19:20 PM
-- Edited by Olley46 on Friday 15th of May 2015 03:24:07 PM
