Ettiquette for giving assistance to breakdown road users

Oz n Millie · Member

Ettiquette for giving assistance to breakdown road users

GerryP · Veteran Member

A few years ago now, we came across 4 younger indigenous guys who were badly bogged on the side of the highway, down the south east of SA. We were in convoy with 2 other vehicles, so we stopped to assist.

We spent probably half an hour extricating their old Falcon from the sand. They were unbelievably grateful for the help we gave them... many hand shakes and even a man-hug from the eldest one. Apparently, they'd been stuck there for a couple of hours and not one person had stopped to offer assistance... a bit sad really, but I guess understandable to some extent.

Over the last 40 years, I have worked and travelled throughout the outback and have had a helluva lot to do with many communities and I can tell you that in the vast majority of cases, you'd have very little to worry about from our indigenous folk, especially in a situation such as this.

Would I do it if I was on my own... yes, probably, unless it looked decidedly risky for some reason. I would certainly hope that someone would stop to help me if I was in a spot of bother.

dave48 · Senior Member

Time after time so called Indigenous but all the same fellow Australians have helped and saved people in the outback. I have pulled up to help my fellow humans of all persuasions over the years and have had some help me. So unless someone is standing there with a shotgun or spear I would always stop. Dave

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Out back are TOTALLY different to town / city people !! The thing is to talk and get along in them first place .. ..

Oz n Millie · Member

-- Edited by Oz n Millie on Tuesday 15th of November 2016 02:51:52 AM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

If someone has a problem in the bush, we stop and help if we can and have done so many times.
If we can't help directly, we will pass a message to someone who can.
That is the "code" of the bush.
Next time it may just be you that needs assistance. What then?

Cheers,
Peter

Tony Bev · Guru

I no longer go off the beaten bitumen track, but I would always stop to help, if in a remote situation

While on the bitumen, I use to normally slow down and ask if someone wanted assistance.

After many "no thanks we can manage, but thanks for asking."

I now only stop if someone looks as though they need help, or if they wave for me to stop, or if I see that they have a puncture, and are older/frailer people than myself

Perhaps it would not be beyond the combined intelligence, of the members of this forum, to devise a sign which means, "I am struggling here a bit mate, can you lend a hand."

If there was such a sign, then I am sure that 99% of us would stop, and offer our assistance

aussietraveller · Guru

Totally agree withTony Bev I have pulled up whenever I have seen some one in trouble, I have been thanked on a number of occasions and told its ok mate we will be ok, I think a sign of some kind would be good cause it can be difficult to find a safe place to stop.

mr glassies · Guru

We were going out to burren junction a few mths ago and there was a chev ute on the wrong side of the road with his van behind facing the other way . Also there was a lot of cattle on the road so I just drove on by they weren't waving us down and I jus thought they were with the drovers. Sitting in the pool later on that night we discovered he had problems and was waiting for a tow for his van as the towbar broke on his tug .
I made up my mind there and then never to drive past any one broken down again . I even pulled up on an old guy the other day with a flat he didn't need help but was so great full for me stopping.

Dibs

Grumpytoo · Senior Member

We always stop and have assisted a number of people, the latest being this morning when a motor cyclist waved us down. His bike had broken down and he had no reception on his phone. We got to the next town and let the RACV know of his situation. We also appreciate when others at least enquire if we need assistance even if we are just having a break. What goes around comes around, if you want people to help you out of a tight spot then you have to be prepared to help others.

erad · Guru

I normally stop if I see a vehicle with trouble well away from help. Exceptions - we were flagged down by some locals about halfway between Fitzroy Crossing and somewhere - they were stoned high on petrol and wanted some more. I had a jerry can in the back but wasn't going to give them any. Later that trip we stopped to help a broken down troopie on the Cape Leveque road. Nice people - the man asked if we could take his wife and daughter to Beagle Bay, which we did. After srranging help and then looking through the church, we were leaving when the troopie limped into the settlement.

I stopped to help a man with a flat tyre near Cooktown. It turned out that he had a respiratory condition and was unable to lift the heavy spare wheel even down from its mounting, yet alone put it on. Years later, I have a respiratory condition and I had a flat on my caravan on a remote section of road. I had just started jacking it up when a young bloke came along with an old Pajero and brought out his high lift jack. He changed the wheel for me. Naturally, I was very grateful. So what goes around, comes around eventually.

-- Edited by erad on Tuesday 15th of November 2016 09:24:44 AM

kiwijims · Guru

On one of our many trips across the Nullarbor, we came across a Semi lying on it's side,

on pulling up I spotted the driver sitting in the shade of the over-turned rig,

Asking him if he was alright and if there was anything we could do, he surprised us by answering.....

"Na she's right Mate" I'm only changing the oil !!!

In actual fact, help was on the way, he had sent for a crane, but didn't think it would get to him before tomorrow,

After making sure he had something to eat, I offered him a couple of cans of Cold Beer, he was so grateful ,but told me to have a look over under a low bush,

It appeared we were not the first to stop and offer him a coldie, there must have been the best part of a dozen cans sitting there, by the way , he didn't hand back our Beer, as he said, he didn't know how long it would take for the crane to arrive.

We left him in his cheerful mode and travelled on, meeting the crane coming to his rescue, but we were a good 200k away from him by then.

"Yep" She's a damn big place, that Nullarbor !!

K.J.

Retiredatlast · Veteran Member

Before the Stuart Highway was sealed and any rain caused chaos I came across a semi while in my 4wd on the way from Adelaide to Warrego Mine Tennant Creek. The truck had slid in the mud and into the gutter. He was not going anywhere. I could not pull him out.

I could have kept going but I stopped to make sure he was Ok. I offered some of my water to him. He said no thanks.

He was sitting in the mud with a stubbie in his hand. I said I will get someone to come and help with a grader and and pull you out.

He said "****" don't do that. I said why not. He pulled the tarp back a little on the trailer and I saw he had a semi full of beer destined for the NT to quench their thirst.

I sat down and had a warm stubbie with him. He was prepared to stay there for a lot longer. The rain started again then I left.

macka17 · Guru

There is NO etiquette.

I've been travelling for 40 odd yrs in this country. work and pleasure.

Somebody stopped. YOU stop.

ONE DAY. It could just be you....

Aussie1 · Guru

Very altruistic by most posters on this subject with comments like "you stop", "code of the bush" etc. However a word of caution. Unfortunately not all travellers are of the same "generous nature"as we are as forum members. I would err on the side of caution i.e. asses all situations first. Article in the WA press today regarding a "scam" by a guy pretending to be broken down on the side of the road on Albany Hwy (in the country). Has been flagging down motorists and asking for petrol money as he has to get to Perth for funeral. Apparently been going on for sometime and police now know who he is and are looking for him. I, like another poster have spent many years (40+ work and pleasure) travelling in isolated areas and found through experience that about 95% are genuine. Over the years I have assisted quite a few in issues (have also had a couple of bad experiences in isolated spots in NW WA). I am just saying, use a bit of caution.

macka17 · Guru

Yrs ago.
I had my chopped old single 12g beside my seat. Door side.
Nowadays I have a divers knife and a short donger.
ALL usable inside cab of ute.

Unless they OBVIOUSLY "IFFY".
I stop for everybody.

Way I look at it.
One day it could be ME standing there.

The last time I thumbed it anywhere.
Was back in UK when driving BRS Semi's round the country.
Just hold your red logbook folder up.
And the first truck from anywhere. Stopped for you.

Different world in those days though.
And all truckies stopped for ALL truckies

Just be sensible about it

elliemike · Guru

In june last on the GCR. Flat Tyre.

Spare rim was not the same stud PCD size, no jack, no wheel stud spanner/socket.

They had a spare new Tube that was too big for the tyres.

Anyway we invariably always stop and help if we can. Broke the bead on the wheel by running over it. Fitted the "Far Too Big" tube in. Inflated it and sent them on their way. They were going to Warburton I think about 50Kms away.

PS why does that happen Picture rotated after pasting. Then how do you correct it!

2016.5 May-Jun Tracks with Knells (329).JPG

2016.5 May-Jun Tracks with Knells (330).JPG

-- Edited by elliemike on Wednesday 16th of November 2016 04:00:45 PM