Thread: Fraser Island

Bugger I reckon !

On midday news here..3 dead 8 all up involved all serious. What worries is the reaction to 4wheelers from the do gooders.
John

This was posted on ABC News an hour ago.

Seven injured in Fraser Island 4WD crash

Posted 1 hour 30 minutes ago
Updated 38 minutes ago

Map: Eurong 4581
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Related Story: Fraser 4WD crash prompts call for slowdown
A four-wheel-drive has overturned on Fraser Island off the south-east Queensland coast.

The accident happened this morning on the eastern side of the island at Indian Head, when the driver of the troop-carrier swerved to avoid an obstacle.

Three rescue helicopters were sent to the scene, where seven tourists were hurt.

Four people are being flown to hospital in Brisbane with serious injuries, while the others will be treated in the Hervey Bay hospital.

The Queensland Government recently delayed law changes affecting four-wheel drive hire companies on Fraser Island until April next year.

New laws were due to come into effect this month to reduce the number of passengers in vehicle and ban loads on roofs in response to an accident earlier this year in which two overseas tourists died.

But Transport Minister Rachel Nolan says the deadline has been extended to allow operators more time to make their vehicle compliant.

She says it has also made a number of concessions to the laws including allowing eight passengers in a vehicle instead of the original seven.

There may be more corect/updatedi nformation since then ?

One dead in Fraser Island 4WD crash

From: AAP December 13, 2009 2:16PM
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ONE person has died and seven others have been airlifted to hospital after a four-wheel-drive rolled over on Fraser Island in southeast Queensland.

The vehicle was carrying eight people when it tipped over on the island's Eastern Beach around 9.40am (AEST) on Sunday.

Police have confirmed one fatality.

Three rescue helicopters were sent to airlift to hospital the seven injured, aged between 20 and 30.

A Department of Community Services spokeswoman said their injuries ranged from shoulder fractures, facial and scalp injuries to minor neck and back pain.

Somethings got to be done about this.
They can't just let non-experienced 4 wheel drivers on the beach.
Isn't there a law that states, when a hire company lets out a vehicle, they give the drivers some basic instructions on how to drive on sand or on a beach ?

Even if they just showed a 30 minute DVD on beach driving to customers before they are allowed to take the vehicle.

I think the hire companies also need to look at the instability of the Toyota Troop carrier. The legislation is already bring in to remove roof loads, but perhaps they need to run wide wheel packs or something. I still think that the speed limits on the coast are insane, 80km/h is a joke. It should be back at about 60, meaning about 50.

I know that they do get about a 3 hour lecture, because when we were up there just a few weeks ago we met a couple of the backpackers and they told us about it. But on the other hand, the amount of friggen people they pile into those troopies and the amount of **** on the roof is just ridiculous, the whole time we were there we thought there was going to be an accident for sure, its just ridiculous really that the companies are letting them drive around like they are, and even with the 3 hours, they are still generally useless drivers, they were getting stuck everytime they tried to drive anywhere.

Shamo

Its a tricky one, the crashes seem to be from swerving to miss obstacles, but in the last couple of weeks there have been 2 off this forum who have destroyed/damaged parts of their vehicles from hitting obstacles, possibly if they had swerved they could be in a similar situation.

Regardless of what the speed limit is, people will still crash. Perhaps there should be an actual practical driving test for all hire vehicles prior to entering the Island. Its not just on the island that they crash but it just gets more news when its on the island.