Indian Ocean Drive WA

[Fatso]

Finally some in power has realized that the new IOD has a problem since it opened in 2010 , ie 50 serious crashes and a number of fatality,s in the last 18 months alone , the last fatality just a couple of days ago .

I in no way condemn the road but the inpatient drivers who use it , it was opened to service the tourist travelers along the coastal strip north of Perth but has turned out to be a Ratrun for the drivers from further afield instead of using the Brand Highway further inland to travel South & North .

This road was never designed to handle the amount of traffic that the Brand Highway can accommodate so not sure what the powers at be will decide , of course anyone is entitled to use this road with the exception of trucks who are not delivering along it , all other trucks and road trains must use the brand highway , i live along the IOD and use it on a regular basis and i can not believe some of the antics that go on with speeding and bloody inpatient drivers who cant seem to be able to share the road , and all they want is to get to the end of IOD and rejoin the Brand Highway further north or get to the metro area in Perth .

[cjc_td5]

Is there a load limit on IOD? If not, any truck 19m or less in length can use it "as of right". There is no restriction for deliveries only as far as I am aware.

[Fatso]

Is there a load limit on IOD? If not, any truck 19m or less in length can use it "as of right". There is no restriction for deliveries only as far as I am aware.

I believe it was a recommendation at first that trucks use the Brand Highway unless delivering along IOD ,maybe it was never implemented , as far as i am aware there is no load limit , there is a move to get the Ag Lime B doubles off IOD from Lancelin and out to the Brand with road works to facilitate . If i was a truckie i would avoid IOD like the plague .

[trout1105]

I have only used the IOD on a few occasions But I do remember some signage that said local trucks only to use the road.
The majority of the road users on that road are either locals or tourists ( many of them towing rather large vans ) as far as I could tell from the times that I have used the road.
As the OP has said there IS a Hoon element that uses the road as I have seen these first hand, I suppose that this can be said for any highway but the dangers presented by these Hoons is multiplied by many times on the stretch of the IOD from Leeman to the Brand hwy turnoff because it is a narrow and winding stretch in this area.
It is a Great stretch of road to travel especially in summer and if you take it steady you will get to enjoy it But if you want to use it as a faster way to Perth or From Perth North you are wasting your time, It my be a shorter distance but the Brand hwy is still the quickest way to travel.

[PAT303]

I can only give my experience of driving the IOD,I've been overtaken by cars around the blind corners north of Jurien,I've been stuck behind cars doing 80km/hr only to then speed up when people tried to overtake,in one instance I hit 130 to get around a car that sped up about 6 times beforehand blocking cars,we saw a RAV 4 try to squeeze between two trucks last xmas trying to overtake both of them.I've never had problems with trucks ever,the only problem has been cars,especially caravaners.There's too many incompetent drivers on the road IMO. Pat

[ATH]

Driving standards on the IOD is no better or worse than anywhere else in WA. With the latest fatality I see the "Worst Australian" has chosen to blame the road not the fact that a tourist has wandered over into the oncoming traffic. Fairly typical reporting by them actually.
We use it a lot and I find it's not a bad road but as others have said the behaviour of many leaves a lot to be desired but there's nothing new about that. About a month ago we travelled south after a short trip away towing our small van and the queue behind a bloke towing a largish van with a LC 200 was long and very agitated. Problem was he drove at above 90kph when it was clear to overtake but immediately dropped to mid 60s on stretches with double white lines. If that's not deliberate antagonistic driving I don't know what is. Plus there was a goon behind him with an aging camper van that kept wandering out for a look see then back in and out again.....bloody frustrating and he made the length necessary to get past much longer.
That's one of the problems on our country roads, incompetent drivers who just cannot overtake making it much harder for others to do so safely.
In the end I went past both of them but had to do 130 and that if checked by one of our revenue raisers would have resulted in immediate loss of license. And it's no good trying to talk sense into them or any of the so called road safety "experts".
Strangely the idiot in the camper suddenly chased me sitting right up close and then sped past with no problems at all!! A true West Australian driver.
AlanH.

[Tins]

Driving standards on the IOD is no better or worse than anywhere else in WA. With the latest fatality I see the "Worst Australian" has chosen to blame the road not the fact that a tourist has wandered over into the oncoming traffic. Fairly typical reporting by them actually.
We use it a lot and I find it's not a bad road but as others have said the behaviour of many leaves a lot to be desired but there's nothing new about that. About a month ago we travelled south after a short trip away towing our small van and the queue behind a bloke towing a largish van with a LC 200 was long and very agitated. Problem was he drove at above 90kph when it was clear to overtake but immediately dropped to mid 60s on stretches with double white lines. If that's not deliberate antagonistic driving I don't know what is. Plus there was a goon behind him with an aging camper van that kept wandering out for a look see then back in and out again.....bloody frustrating and he made the length necessary to get past much longer.
That's one of the problems on our country roads, incompetent drivers who just cannot overtake making it much harder for others to do so safely.
In the end I went past both of them but had to do 130 and that if checked by one of our revenue raisers would have resulted in immediate loss of license. And it's no good trying to talk sense into them or any of the so called road safety "experts".
Strangely the idiot in the camper suddenly chased me sitting right up close and then sped past with no problems at all!! A true West Australian driver.
AlanH.

Never been on the IOD, but I endorse what you say about the standard of driving. Try the Newell Highway at holiday time.

[Fatso]

Driving standards on the IOD is no better or worse than anywhere else in WA. With the latest fatality I see the "Worst Australian" has chosen to blame the road not the fact that a tourist has wandered over into the oncoming traffic. Fairly typical reporting by them actually.
We use it a lot and I find it's not a bad road but as others have said the behaviour of many leaves a lot to be desired but there's nothing new about that. About a month ago we travelled south after a short trip away towing our small van and the queue behind a bloke towing a largish van with a LC 200 was long and very agitated. Problem was he drove at above 90kph when it was clear to overtake but immediately dropped to mid 60s on stretches with double white lines. If that's not deliberate antagonistic driving I don't know what is. Plus there was a goon behind him with an aging camper van that kept wandering out for a look see then back in and out again.....bloody frustrating and he made the length necessary to get past much longer.
That's one of the problems on our country roads, incompetent drivers who just cannot overtake making it much harder for others to do so safely.
In the end I went past both of them but had to do 130 and that if checked by one of our revenue raisers would have resulted in immediate loss of license. And it's no good trying to talk sense into them or any of the so called road safety "experts".
Strangely the idiot in the camper suddenly chased me sitting right up close and then sped past with no problems at all!! A true West Australian driver.
AlanH.

Wow 130Kmh with a caravan on the back , i could think of no reason on this earth that would provoke me into doing that . !! .

[bblaze]

Only driven the IOD a few times but from my point of view the worst road by far in WA is the ALBANY highway at easter time, seems there are no rules at all
cheers
blaze

[ATH]

Wow 130Kmh with a caravan on the back , i could think of no reason on this earth that would provoke me into doing that . !! .
Why not? The D4 is easily capable of that and the van is only a light one and it was only for a very brief period.
If you're not capable of pressing the loud pedal to get past dickheads that's your problem and actually that's the problem with so many drivers on that road. They're incompetent.
AlanH.

[trout1105]

I would have thought that speeding and impatience would be a bigger factor in road accidents that incompetence [bigwhistle]

[Fatso]

I would have thought that speeding and impatience would be a bigger factor in road accidents that incompetence [bigwhistle]

X2

[trout1105]

The main reason why many people choose to use the IOD is because it is the "Scenic" route and they like to take it easy and Enjoy the drive.
If you are in a hurry or don't have the patience to put up with the slower moving traffic then this is Not the road for you, Take the Brand highway.
I would do at least 30 trips a year to and from Geraldton to Perth every year before I got hurt and only used the IOD if I had plenty of time to do the run.
Yes the caravans and the "Skinny" parts of the road can be a right pain in the arse But if you bide your time and take it easy you Will get the opportunity to overtake SAFELY eventually.
Road rage and impatience can and Do cause injury and death So If you do choose or have to use the IOD then plan for it to take longer than expected and just "Chill Out", None of us "Own" the road we Share it with the other users and if the journey is a little slow at times at least you can enjoy the view in this rather nice part of Wester Australia [thumbsupbig]

[ATH]

I did bide my time and when the opportunity to overtake safely, albeit by exceeding the speed limit, I took it. No road rage or danger at all. Many others followed me past the van who appeared to be deliberately holding traffic up, long clear stretch enabled most to get past and drop back to the limit when safe to do so.
AlanH.

[Fatso]

Sad , Another 3 killed on the Indian Ocean Drive this morning , same spot as the last fatality in June , not sure of the circumstances .

[ATH]

Would seem to be a better use of road safety money to have cops patrolling the IOD than installing speed averaging cameras on the Forrest Hwy. 8 deaths in 9 years or something but this latest initiative by the road safety lot will fix that.
AlanH.

[Wraithe]

Half the problem is drivers attitude...

IOD has too many blind spots where there is access off the road...

At Jurien, its a classic, access to lime pits are in blind spots, when your pulling out of a pit at 27.5m long and averaging 88 to 100 tonne, you dont get moving very quickly yet the cars dont read the signs saying "road trains entering"...

First pit north of Jurien is the worst, over a hill heading north and through an S bend, the pit entry is right at the end of the S-bend... Frieghtens the **** out of me as my last truck had to come out slow and at an angle, because of the camber of the road and the rise while heading onto the road, caused a lack of steerage... I have driven along the gutter on other side of road just to get on IOD so as to not block the main road....

Cars come around that S-bend at 110 or better... And the other way, is a straight line north, do you think the cars and holiday would slow down with a truck pulling 2 large tippers out in front of them, no they dont, even from 1,000 metres away they still have the pedal to the medal and then get aggressive because you take too long getting going... Mind you, it is up hill into the S-bend...

I have heard there have been accidents on that spot, but I have only experienced near misses, like the goose that went around the dog trailer(which was still off the road when I turned on) through the gravel and back onto the road, between my cab and the car waiting for me to clear the road....

I always tried to come out onto IOD in 2nd or 3rd gear(might sound fast but its walking pace on an 18 spd)...

There is a bright side, if another truck is coming through S-bends, you can get called out if road is clear and not turn onto IOD but turn along verge and go full bolt acrosss the lane to your lane, thus you get moving faster and no sharp turn... Not the ideal way but you clear the road quicker....

WA drivers are dangerous, inconsiderate, in too much of a hurry and think they are rightous... It has got worse in the last 20 years and the licensing changes have not improved a thing...

I think the do gooders and rightous need to bugger off so if one cant drive, they dont get to, none of this right to drive crap...

[CraigE]

Latest one was overtaking lane, one vehicle passing another and appears a vehicle travelling the other way decided to overtake another vehicle crossing double white lines, so no fault with the road just impatient and idiot drivers.
Sad for all those involved and absolutely no need for it to happen.

[ATH]

From what I read this morning the over taker on doubles whites was an 83 year old bloke. Let's not just assume he was impatient ...maybe he had a stroke or something.
Whatever, my sincerest condolences to the families of those involved.
AlanH.

[trout1105]

I don't know what it is about the IOD But it seems to be a Moron Magnet, I saw some unbelievably stupid and dangerous drivers on my trip up and down it this week.
There was even a D1/D2 that decided to pull out 100m in front of me when I was doing 110kph on a perfectly straight stretch of road.

[Fatso]

[QUOTE=trout1105;2797772]I don't know what it is about the IOD But it seems to be a Moron Magnet, I saw some unbelievably stupid and dangerous drivers on my trip up and down it this week.
There was even a D1/D2 that decided to pull out 100m in front of me when I was doing 110kph on a perfectly straight stretch of road.[/QUOTE

Yeah 100m sounds about righ for the IOD Join the Traffic Rule from a side entrance , it usualy applies during School holidays and long weekends . [tonguewink][tonguewink]

It has got a bit more sane on the lancilin south section with the reduction in speed to 100Kmh , it now gives you a slightly better chance of guessing what the idiots are going to do . [bigrolf] .

[Eevo]

having driven this road today, its a terrible journey. few trucks but lots of caravans going slow and lots of tourists . not nearly enough overtaking lanes.

[knares]

Only been up it once
Always use the brand
When I went up there, there wasn’t much traffic at all
I blew a tire, left side, there was no way I was going to change it on the road but to drive off the road the verge was so steep I think I would have rolled it.
As there was no traffic, I turned into the middle of the road, then went over the side going straight.
Some young people going the other way did a U turn and came back and offered to help, but we were ok, so that was good
Luckily I was in a landcruser, so it was no problem getting back on the road

[Fatso]

Its a great and scenic drive , the problem is it was opened to provide access to all the towns along the coast as tourists traveling north or south were on the Brand Highway to and from Geraldton and missed all the places along the coast .

The distance from Perth to Gerro is a bit shorter using IOD so a lot of the traffic that would normaly use the Brand Highway now use IOD and in the process get frustrated with the Tourists and Lime trucks & locals along the way , IOD is a Tourist Way not a Highway so not everyone is going to belt along at 110KMh and there in lays the problem . [thumbsupbig]

And some of the tourists who it was built for could do with some manners as well .

[ATH]

"And some of the tourists who it was built for could do with some manners as well ." That could be said about most drivers throughout the land actually as pig ignorant lazy drivers are not restricted to the IOD.
AlanH.

[Fatso]

"And some of the tourists who it was built for could do with some manners as well ." That could be said about most drivers throughout the land actually as pig ignorant lazy drivers are not restricted to the IOD.
AlanH.

I dont know about "most drivers" , i find most drivers are of a good quality and it is always a minority who are the "pig ignorant lazy drivers" as you say .

Check the Freeway for the minority they are there every day . :eek2: .

I might add that all the problems on this road is usualy on weekends and especially long w/ends and school holidays , during week days it is quite good , sort of says where the problems come from dont, it .

[Chops]

I did a little research on this road. 😁

Looking forward to to being able to traverse it one day. It looks very similar to our Great Ocean Road here in Vic. It too is a major tourist attraction for the travelers, although unfortunately they are talking of putting a price on the drive for tourists. I’m not sure I think that’s fair at all, but they say it’s to help look after the ammenities etc, rest stops and whatnot along the way. We’ll see what happens.

[BMKal]

I did a little research on this road. 😁

Looking forward to to being able to traverse it one day. It looks very similar to our Great Ocean Road here in Vic. It too is a major tourist attraction for the travelers, although unfortunately they are talking of putting a price on the drive for tourists. I’m not sure I think that’s fair at all, but they say it’s to help look after the ammenities etc, rest stops and whatnot along the way. We’ll see what happens.

Having driven both, believe me when I say that IOD has nothing on the Great Ocean Road. No comparison whatsoever. [wink11]

[ATH]

I would have thought that all motorists already pay enough through all the various taxes on fuel and for licencing to pay for the "amenities" along roads. Just another grab for yet more money to waste.
AlanH.

[V8Ian]

Three dead, 11 injured after 4WD and minibus carrying foreign tourists collide near Lancelin - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-10/indian-ocean-drive-car-crash-leaves-multiple-people-dead/10598710)

This incident could have been caused by a medical event or inattention. There is nothing wrong with the road if people drive appropriately.

[trout1105]

Three dead, 11 injured after 4WD and minibus carrying foreign tourists collide near Lancelin - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-10/indian-ocean-drive-car-crash-leaves-multiple-people-dead/10598710)

This incident could have been caused by a medical event or inattention. There is nothing wrong with the road if people drive appropriately.

I agree that there is Nothing wrong at all with the road itself, There IS however something wrong with some of the people that drive on it.

[Fatso]

I agree that there is Nothing wrong at all with the road itself, There IS however something wrong with some of the people that drive on it.

You got that right , There is something very wrong some peoples attitutude in WA , coming off all the 60Kmh road works heading north at about Wilbinga and just before the dual overtaking lane in a line off traffic of about 30 cars , the front half of the line of about of which i was about 6 from the front was heading back up to 100Kmh when a bunch of lunatics from the rear then sped up to try and overtake everybody else before arring at the end of the double road .

I will leave it to your imagination what chaos they coursed at the merging piont , I can usualy suppress my anger at dickheads but if could have got hold of some these ******* who have absolutlely no road sence and or no regard for other road users safety i would have gladly handed some frustration on them . :bat:.

[Fatso]

You got that right , There is something very wrong some peoples attitutude in WA , coming off all the 60Kmh road works heading north at about Wilbinga and just before the dual overtaking lane in a line off traffic of about 30 cars , the front half of the line of about of which i was about 6 from the front was heading back up to 100Kmh when a bunch of lunatics from the rear then sped up to try and overtake everybody else before arring at the end of the double road .

I will leave it to your imagination what chaos they coursed at the merging piont , I can usualy suppress my anger at dickheads but if could have got hold of some these ******* who have absolutlely no road sence and or no regard for other road users safety i would have gladly handed some frustration on them . :bat:.

In future when coming off road works i will pull over and let everybody go past and out of the way .

[trout1105]

In future when coming off road works i will pull over and let everybody go past and out of the way .

If you have a dashcam fitted you can send the footage to the police and make a complaint.
I consider "Dobbing in" to be unaustralian But making these sort of arseholes accountable for their actions isn't dobbing in it's a public service[thumbsupbig]

[ATH]

I've just done that with a clip from my dash cam on a USB showing a tow truck crossing a red light. Haven't heard back from the cops at all and doubt if I will or if I'll get my USB back.
There was also 3 short clips (front and rear) showing a tosser driving a Tojo weaving through the traffic and cutting across my bows so close it was highly dangerous. In total I reckoned he committed about 6 offences but I had probs. down loading it in time so they probably won't take any action.
I put it down to the idiot showing a Landie driver how it should be done.... :)
AlanH.

[4bee]

Hell! My experience today seems quite tame after all the above.[bighmmm]



Proceeding up a hill with a T intersection at the top, me in the outer straight ahead lane doing 60k. A car is stopped at the junction against a STOP sign. Me, a white car with headlights on (always do that) coming up on his/her right when he/she suddenly decides to pull out across my bows & turn right to go down hill, anchors hit & I was able to dive behind the car & continue.


I guess he/she was a student from the local Blind School.. How could it not have seen me FFS?

Stop Signs. Give way to ALL traffic not wait until that traffic has gone past, not stop & then restart at your convenience One despairs sometimes, one really does.[bighmmm]