Thread: Indian Ocean Drive WA

Originally Posted by trout1105

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

X2

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

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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.