Thread: New Fraser island backpacker 4wd rules

New laws target backpacker safety on Fraser Island


Paramedics treat injured tourists at the scene of the fatal Fraser Island crash in April.

July 26, 2009 - 11:07AM
New laws will restrict the number of people and amount of luggage hire vehicles can carry on Fraser Island following the deaths of two tourists.
Italian Concetta Dell'Angelo, 26, and Ian Davy, 22, from the UK died after being thrown from a Toyota troop carrier when it rolled three times on the World Heritage listed island in April.
The nine other backpackers in the car were also hurt when the driver swerved to avoid a wave, with two receiving spinal injuries.
The speed limit on the island was dropped to 80km/h following the crash, which also prompted calls for greater driver training for hire vehicles.
Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced on Sunday new restrictions on hire 4WDs would allow only seven people to travel inside, down from the current maximum of 11.
Luggage will also be prevented from being carried on roofs to stop the vehicles from being as top-heavy and lessen the chance of a roll-over.
Ms Nolan said statistics showed the greatest crash risk on Fraser Island was faced by foreign visitors in hired troop carriers.
"There is a safety issue among groups of visitors, generally backpackers, who have been able to come from abroad without relevant driving experience, load up a troop carrier and take off," she said in a statement.
"That clear evidence of a specific safety problem can't be ignored and it is why I have decided to take this targeted action."
She said the government would work with operators on a timeframe to give them enough time to modify vehicles or replace their fleets.
Ms Nolan said a recent blitz on hire vehicle operators on the island had found just 59 out of 90 vehicles were roadworthy.



New laws target backpacker safety on Fraser Island

Originally Posted by camel_landy

• What about a 4x4s without low-range??? (Auto gearboxes do a very good job of compensating for a lack of low-range...)

The only 4x4s I can think of without low range are soft-roaders anyway (I'm sure someone will enlighten me if there are other, serious ones). These are generally designed with more of an on-road bias so pose less of a threat to inexperienced drivers. Also without the swags of available accessories there is less chance of someone trying to take one to Fraser Island, and no regular hire company would let them anyway.

• What about your 'lifestyle choice' family who want to own a Discovery but never select low-range??

Tough! The license class needs to be for the intended use of the vehicle. As far as I'm concerned, if you buy a "real" 4x4 you should be properly trained or get something more appropriate. We do it for motorcycles.

I see where you're going but I think it would be somewhat open to abuse... It'll also instantly kill off the 4wd market in Oz!

I personally think it will improve it. Most 4x4s sold here are not dual range and not capable of crossing the Simpson. We are only really talking about 20-odd actual vehicle models (that I can count off the top of my head). Manufacturers of these vehicles would just have to promote safe off-road driving by offering the equivalent of a motorcycle "Q-Ride" (not sure what other states have) to get purchasers' licenses upgraded to include the new class.

Most people would see those regs and say "Why would I want to upgrade my license?", the only people who would take up the option would be the more 'hardcore' 4x4 user. Then, if they don't have the option on their license, they will instantly discount anything with low-range as they won't want to take another test just to drive that type of car.

The point here is that tall, heavy, 4x4 vehicles pose a risk of injury or death to the inexperienced operator off-road which are different to risks faced by regular cars on-road. I would rather be forced to upgrade my license than have the government lock-up more and more bush tracks and interesting, 4x4 accessible wilderness areas because of litigation paralysis.

Finally, that will then lead to the bottom falling out of the Oz market for all 4x4s with a low-range gearbox (wether people would be using it or not). In turn, that would push up the price through the good old rules of supply & demand.

Like I said, this legislation would not affect most soft-roaders and that's where the real volume sales are anyway. The companies like Land Rover & Nissan but more importantly Toyota who produce some volume of dual-range 4x4 sales should be smart enough to make this work to their advantage. After all, Land Rover already have their own driver training scheme and use this as part of their appeal.

M

Originally Posted by p38arover

That would include Subarus with manual gearboxes.

I take your point so maybe the regulations would need to include a nominated kerb weight and vehicle height or ground clearance (thinking of Suzuki Jimnys here which should also require the license IMO).


So this is how I see it working...

Using QLD as an example, introduce a new license class C4 (general cars are C). This means the motorist is licensed to drive off-road capable 4WD or AWD motor vehicles with a dual-range or low ratio (includes single-range vehicles with ultra-low first or crawler gears)gearbox and a kerb weight inexcess of 1800kg OR ground clearance inexcess of 190mm with a greater than 1 height:width ratio.

ie. heavy or tall purpose built off-road vehicles.

I'm sure some boffins would be able to refine this so the legislation doesn't incorrectly cover the wrong cars but it is just an idea. The rules above would therefore cover the Suzuki Jimny but not Subaru Forester as an example.