thepilbara road safety survival guide RoadWise. PO Box 1544, West Perth WA 6872 Telephone: (08) 9213 2066 Facsimile: (08) 9321 8378 May 2006 Contents Road Safety: It’s your responsibility Welcome to the Pilbara The Pilbara is one of the most beautiful and wondrous places to visit. From the rugged Road Safety Survival Tips coastline to the majesty of the gorges at Remote Trip Planning Karajini National Park, you will be astounded by the rare beauty of the region. Map of the Pilbara Region The people of the Pilbara want you to Road Rules in WA enjoy your visit and to this end have developed this important guide for road Road Signs and What They Mean safety survival in the region. Emergency Contacts Road Safety is your responsibility. This booklet will provide you with basic information on how to reduce your road risks whilst travelling throughout the Pilbara. It is important if you do not understand the information contained in the guide or require further information and advice that you contact the emergency numbers located at the back of this book. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry, so if you are unsure of any circumstance – find out all the details about the situation first, don’t take a risk. PHOTO INDEX/COL ROBERTS COVER PHOTOGRAPH: PHOTO INDEX/RICHARD WOLDENDORP Road Safety What to do Straying Animals/ Survival Tips if you get bogged Wildlife on Roads The Pilbara experiences a range of weather Even the most experienced drivers can Straying livestock and wildlife are often conditions ranging from cyclones to extreme get bogged. Should this happen try the found on roads in the region. Keep alert for dry periods, and off-road remote areas to following actions: animals on or near the road, especially at developed townsites. You can check road • Let some of the air out of your tyres and then dusk and dawn and where possible avoid conditions prior to your journey by phoning try to drive out. Do not use all your energy travelling at night. If travelling at night – 138 138. The following information is trying to dig the vehicle out of soft sand if reduce your speed and only drive within important and should be applied during the vehicle continues to sink. Conserve as the range of your headlights. your travels. much energy as possible. If you are unable If an animal appears on the road in to free the vehicle yourself, use whatever front of you, brake firmly in a straight line communication means are available to Floodways/ and sound your horn. DO NOT SWERVE you to contact others for assistance. Give Water across Roadway BUT ENDEAVOUR TO PASS BEHIND accurate position details and advise of what Some roads in the Pilbara are prone to flash THE ANIMAL. equipment you have with you to use (eg. flooding. Before crossing always check: snatch strap etc). Wait with your vehicle. If you hit a large animal and it is killed on impact try to remove the carcass from the • The depth of the water by getting out of Tyres the vehicle and physically walking the roadway for the safety of other motorists. intended crossing. The water should be Some of the unsealed roads in the area INJURED ANIMALS CAN BECOME no higher than the bottom of the door on have very sharp rocks which can easily UNPREDICTABLE AND MAY TRY TO conventional 2WD vehicles and no higher puncture tyres. If you intend to travel on SCRATCH/BITE. USE CARE WHEN than the average adult’s knee (when unsealed roads ensure you have extra tyres, HANDLING THEM. USE TOWELS, RUGS ETC standing) on higher 4WD vehicles tubes and tyre repair kits. It is FOR SMALLER ANIMALS. BE WARY OF THE recommended that 2 spare tyres be taken. REAR LEGS AND TAIL OF KANGAROOS. • Look for submerged objects THESE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF • Test strength of the flow of water Unsealed Roads YOU ARE KICKED OR HIT. • Determine if the water level is rising Many of the roads in the region or falling are unsealed and consist of gravel, What to do if you have a crash IF IN ANY DOUBT DO NOT CROSS UNTIL rock and sand. THESE SURFACES ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND CAUTION MUST YOU ARE SURE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. Assist any injured. Make the scene safe (i.e. BE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES WHEN warn approaching drivers). Contact (or DRIVING ON THESE ROADS. Salt Flats/Mud Flats have someone contact) Ambulance, Police • Drive and brake with care etc if required. If the total damage to all Salt flats, whilst they look stable are • Road surfaces can become very soft, vehicles or property exceeds $1,000 (and actually tidal. Do not take 4 wheel drives especially after it has been raining and police don’t attend the scene) the crash or other vehicles onto salt/mud flats as you soil has been compacted. must be reported to the nearest police may get bogged. • The ‘keep left’ rule still applies. Use station without delay. extreme care when approaching crests of hills or curves in the road. • Drive to the conditions. • Drive with headlights on low beam during the day. What to do if you break down In the event that your vehicle breaks down, the following actions are strongly recommended: • If possible, get your vehicle off the road and onto the verge. If your vehicle obstructs the roadway, place reflectorised PHOTO INDEX/RICHARD WOLDENDORP markers on the road preceding the vehicle to advise approaching motorists. If no Road Trains/ reflectorised markers are available, use the Heavy Vehicles ‘hazard warning lights’ fitted to the vehicle Road Trains can be up to 53.5 metres long. • Do not attempt to overtake a heavy as well as the park/tail lights. These vehicles use both sealed and unsealed vehicle just because they indicate to • If you are in a remote area – STAY WITH roads in the Pilbara. To overtake or pass the right – they may be turning THE VEHICLE UNTIL HELP ARRIVES – these vehicles keep in mind the following: off the road. do not walk to get help. It is easier to find • Do not pull out onto the roadway a vehicle rather than a person. • Only overtake when the road is clear, it may in front of a vehicle when you see take up to 2.5kms to overtake a road train. • If in mobile phone range ring the them approaching – heavy vehicles appropriate emergency contact. • Ensure the driver of the heavy vehicle is require longer stopping and braking aware of your presence prior to attempting • To identify your location use the map in this distances – it may take more than a to overtake. guide, or if on a major road use the Straight kilometre to stop and you must allow Line Markers (SLK) to ascertain location. • Proceed with extreme caution at night time. enough distance to avoid a crash. These markers are white posts located on • Allow for slight tail swing from the rear • Avoid overtaking road trains and heavy the road verge. trailer(s) whilst overtaking. vehicles when towing trailers or caravans • You cannot exceed the speed limit. if possible. Communication • Be prepared for the wind buffet as you pass. • Maintain a safe following distance behind Mobile phones have a limited range large vehicles prior to overtaking. A safe • Always allow the heavy vehicle sufficient outside many populated centres. Check following distance can be measured by braking distance. with your service provider as to what areas keeping at least 2 seconds behind the your phone will operate. It is worth noting Other important information in sharing vehicle in front in dry conditions, and at least that many hills in the Pilbara region have a the roads with heavy vehicles includes: 4 seconds in wet or adverse conditions. high concentration of metal ore. This may • Do not attempt to overtake a heavy Be patient when following oversize vehicles affect reception and range even if you are vehicle at an intersection. These vehicles which may be under the control of Police well within the service area. often require two (or more) lanes to or private escort. Do not attempt to In Western Australia it is illegal to use a turn a corner. overtake these vehicles unless directed to hand held mobile phone whilst driving. do so by the driver of the rear escort vehicle. When overtaking, do so with care Some organisations (such as RFDS) hire and overtake both the rear escort vehicle satellite phones for travellers going to and the oversize load as swiftly as possible. remote areas. Remote Trip Planning Towing Before you begin your journey in remote Have your vehicle thoroughly checked • The weight of the trailer/caravan areas, check road conditions. ALWAYS before leaving and ensure that you have: should be within the safety limits INFORM A RESPONSIBLE PERSON OF of the car. Add 200kg to the weight • Sufficient fuel YOUR PLANNED JOURNEY AND shown on the vehicle license paper ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL. When you •Oil to allow for bedding, travelling gear, have safely arrived, remember to let that • Water stores and equipment. person know. Do this for every leg of your • Emergency equipment • The legal speed limit outside a built up trip. • First Aid Kit & Fire Extinguisher area (unless otherwise sign-posted) for a vehicle with a trailer or caravan attached is • Know the limitations of the vehicle you are If you plan on travelling into remote parts 100km/h. driving and your own capabilities. A 4WD of the Pilbara, it may be worth considering cannot go everywhere.