I'd like some advice. I'm going to drive from Melbourne to Perth for Christmas and I don't want to upset any truckies.
Someone said I shouldn't slow down to allow them to pass. I imagine I will be going slower than them, but if I ease of the pedal, will it help or hinder the situation. As I'm aware of the braking distances for trucks are huge.
My car has automatic headlights. Should I use them or turn them off. I wont be driving at night, but they operate during the day, supposed to be a safety feature.
I basically want to know what are good manners for towing a caravan and not making life harder for other road users.
Secondly all things being equal, I shall be travelling the other way, after Christmas, otherwise I would have given you a wave
2weis has given you some sound advice
I have been informed by more experienced travellers, about the following procedure, and it works for me as I travel at a slower speed than the trucks
Talk to the truck behind on channel 40
Stay at the speed you are doing unless requested otherwise This helps the truckie to judge how and when to increase his own speed to overtake
When all of the overtaking truck and trailer/s is in the outside lane, then slow down This allows the truck to overtake in the shortest time span
Let the truckie know when he has passed you, by flashing your headlights, and talking to him
I find that sometimes one or two cars, will have timid drivers who for whatever reason, decide not to overtake me With two cars behind, others will then not have enough clear road to overtake me, in this scenario I will pull off as soon as possible, for a cuppa or to stretch my legs
There is a post on the forum were a truckie has given advice from his point of view, I shall try to find it
What ever you do don't slow down until the truck is passing. here is nothing worse than following a caravan doing 90 and it slows to 60 when a truck approaches and it is not safe to pass.
Now that I am motorhoming I advise the truckie that I will slow down when He/she is ready tp pass. everyone is happy then.
If I am towing under speed and see a truck coming up on me I always increase my speed to the speed limit has not to make the truckie reduce there speed , And always slow down only when the truck is along side me when passing , And sometime get a thank you from the truckie .
Welcome to the gang Tim, enjoy here and out in the playground.
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I know it's not a truck driver but I was a coach driver in a previous life so similar.
Do not slow down while the truck is behind you, Tim. If you have UHF talk with them, let them know you are aware they are behind you and you will slow down as they come out to pass you and only then. Keeping an eye on other road conditions of coarse, that's different. If you don't have UHF, they are a great investment. Please, only slow down for the truck or similar large vehicle when they come out to pass you. I'm pretty sure you will get those indicators mentioned by others or a nice thankyou from the truck driver.
I have UHF and always communicate with the truck drivers. Makes for happy and safe motoring.
Your lights will be no problem being on during the day, just make sure they are not on high beam.
Keep to the left as much as possible, especially on duel lane highways.
Keep safe on the roads and out there.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 10th of October 2016 01:30:58 PM
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Beats me some of you have managed to stay on the road for so long.
Yes Dont slow down as the truck comes up behind you and Don't back off as he pulls out to pass because of the air push from the front of his rig can upset the stability of your van, keep the pull on your van and only slow if you have to to give him more room after he is fully out in the other lane.
Absolutely agree with every thing you have said and it is totaly correct.
Unfortunately, some of the "Caravan Towers" slow down, and/or hit the brakes when being overtaken; for some reason!
I would like to see a "Caravan Class" license introduced in Australia.
I live in WA, and need an F Class to drive a Bus, a T Class to drive a Taxi and a HR/MR/LR to drive anything other a car.
I have seen to many people purchase the Van/Car and hit the road with no idea about towing/reversing and/or driving with a van, etc.
Unfortunately we have had close friends loose their Mun and Dad on the first day of their "big lap". Van got the wobbles, rolled, caught fire and the rest is history.
As others have mentioned, do not slow down when a truck comes up behind you.
But, as others have also mentioned, use your UHF CB radio to talk with them. When you first see them coming up and sitting behind, call them to let them know that you know they are there. That lets them know that you are not ignoring them.
Then tell them that when you see them pulling out to overtake you will drop back.
(There is one other bit of truckie etiquette that helps them when the truck has to be quick on overtaking. When they are clear give a quick flash of your headlights on high beam. And I do mean just a quick flash.* That is quicker than using the CB radio to let them know they can move back to the left. Of course, that is generally not required on open roads like the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Moree. Or across the Nullabor.)
* A long flash means that you are not happy with the trucker! The same applies with multiple flashes.
If road conditions are such that the truck is having difficulty in getting past, tell them you will pull over as soon as safe - again let them know when you see a spot ahead. In other words, don't just slam on the brakes.
Of course, if the road is straight with light traffic then the truck may be able to sail past immediately without any problems. In that case you don't have to say a word to them.
My brother was a truckie all his working life so I used to get plenty of feedback about caravans on the road. Funny, but he has been retired for several years now but he has shown no interest in buying a van and hitting the open road!
Murray
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Thursday 13th of October 2016 09:10:55 AM
Slowing down or pulling over onto metal is bad news . Mind you north west Aust there is no choice !! Ahh just drive to conditions . I came close to a few bike rider and one idiot riding s rubbish bin half way between Broom and Darwin !! I thought the idiots lived in cities !! Lol
This may put a fox in the fowl house. When I see the semi or road train pull out to pass me I take my foot off the accelerator. As the prime mover draws level with me I lightly accelerate so as I have control of my car and van and limit getting the wobbles up. I believe that slowing down when large vehicles pass you lessens control of the car and van as you get in to the vacuum area. I believe you need to be pulling to keep a straight line. It does not mean speeding up to make it harder for the transport. Cheers Daz
This may put a fox in the fowl house. When I see the semi or road train pull out to pass me I take my foot off the accelerator. As the prime mover draws level with me I lightly accelerate so as I have control of my car and van and limit getting the wobbles up. I believe that slowing down when large vehicles pass you lessens control of the car and van as you get in to the vacuum area. I believe you need to be pulling to keep a straight line. It does not mean speeding up to make it harder for the transport. Cheers Daz
Yes accelerating will reduce your time "in the vacuum area" if the truck and you are travelling in opposite directions. But by the same tiken it will put you in longer when you are passing/overtaking while travelling in the same direction. Either way I can't see how slowing down puts you "in the vacuum area" and speeding up does not.
The pressure wave will hit you regardless of the speed. And the ensuing vacuum will also hit you regardless of speed.
Speeding up will simply mean that your setup will wander further in a given time and that you will have a higher speed accident instead of a lesser speed accident if it all goes pear shaped.
