Does anybody use safety triangles, or collapsible witches hats. I need to do a bit of practice backing and am considering buying some witches hats to make out the imaginary camp site bay. It also gives me the wile's when backing my van onto our block, that someone will come around the corner at speed while I am straddling the road. I am wondering what the rules of use are, for instance a break down on the side of the road, Trees blocking the road , accident etc. general warnings for traffic coming up behind.
I have both the above plus extra safety items in my MH ... and they get used from time to time
1) Hi-Viz vests - the $10 ones from the local shops x2, one each for pilot & copilot. Used almost every day, whenever we get out of the vehicle to walk up the road and take a photo of something
2) Witches hats - I have 8 [2-sets of 4] of those ones used by children's sporting groups - they are about 20cm high, bright orange plus I have added the red safety tape as well. Used heaps of times when I have a puncture to fix or sometimes something under the MH where I need to crawl under for a sqwiz. They stack nicely and hang on a DIY hook on the wall of the boot.
3) Fold up safety triangles - I have 2 of them, they get used with the witches hats
4) Flashing LED safety lamp [the sort approved by the road safety mobs, not the eBay cheapies] - used as a hand-held, swinging from side to side alert by the navigator when needed ... about once a year
5) Bright yellow rain coats always ready for immediate use ~ coz too many things go wrong in the rain !
As to safety when reversing into the road - that is 100% your responsibility - so the navigator needs to be the "traffic warden". My copilot in her hi-viz vest and the UHF hand held, she tells me when to reverse and all that stuff
I would also suggest to you that you consider either buying a $50 pair of children's 2-way radios so that the navigator can talk to the driver when reversing into tight spots, or getting a built-in 2-way radio plus a 2-watt power hand-held so that one person can be away from the vehicle and still talk to whomever is 'at home'
ps- the small children's radios can go for up to 500m easily, the 2-watt goes from 5km to 20km depending on trees/buildings/hills etc.
The safety collapsable Witches hats are a great safety Item as well as high viz clothing and Triangles for breakdowns.
But for reversing practice there is a very simple and cheap alternative and if run over can be replaced easily.
Just get some 2 ltr mt plastic milk bottles half fill with water for ballast (stops them blowing away in the breeze) place them so that it simulates the area you want to reverse into then try reversing. If you run over one no probs just replace. Start wide at first then slowly and after you gain confidence make the area tighter and tighter, before long you will have the hang of it.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
Onedoger, that's a good idea. Every caravan park (3) I've been to, except for one other which was an easy reverse, has had someone to guide me in, I'm tarting to get a complex, I think they must be contacting each other and saying "don't let this fella reverse his van. Its a big step going from a Jayco Swan to a 25 ft van.
I'll have to find out more, but the person at the safety shop who sells witches hats, triangles etc. etc. has told me that the triangles are the only legal safety warnings I should use. If I was to use witches hats, it can be construed as directing traffic, as I am not authorised to direct traffic, if there is an accident, I can be held liable.
I too like the idea of the milk bottles and the reasoning about triangles and witches hats, makes sense. Maybe you could put a bit of red food die in the water to make stand out a little better, Ian.
I might duck for cover over that comment as someone might think it will contaminate the ground
Where are you thinking of practising Ian??
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I carry 2 x solid witches hats which I bought from Bunnings. They take up little room in the back of the ute and with all the reflective tape, are far better than the triangles.
I also carry a couple of hiviz vests in the rear door pockets of the ute. You can get the "perforated" vests which screw up into a lump not much bigger than your fist - as apposed to the solid fabric jackets which are much bulkier.
As for the legality of witches hats - who cares ! If you break down and you might be at risk of passing vehicles, then the better you can be seen, the better. I don't see any cop dishing out a ticket for using them - rather he/she is likely to pat your back for taking good care on the road
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Dougwe, I'm thinking of using that vacant spot beside your van!, but seriously we have a large parking area for cars at the boat ramps at Henderson Perth. I may use that during crappy weather. trouble is there are no bays marked out as caravan sites.
It will be just getting the hang of turning a big van in confined quarters. How much I can jack-knife the unit and still turn OK etc. As well as getting communication sorted out between you know who.
I have the built in and hand held uhf's in the vehicle.
I am continuing to explore info on triangles and witches hats. One persons opinion or advice is not necessarily gospel.
Sorry to say this but with all the flashing lights, hi-vis jackets and witches hats mentioned above you are sure to be guaranteed one thing:... a very large audience.
a circus or large audience means people are seeing you - not running into or over you.........and remember we're talking here of using safety gear in emergencies and usually on the side of the road where you cant pull right off. I obviously wouldn't use all this stuff in a camp area, off-road rest area or CP.
Better to look like a clown than be a squashed macho man in his shorts and tank top that the truck (driven by a guy in hi viz) passing you didn't see in time to avoid you!
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
