Death on Cape York

[Frostd]

http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2011/08/06/byron-man-death-off-road-smash-cape-york-peninsula/

Just found this article in the web about a guy, ridding a motor bike, colliding with a 4WD, heading out to Captain Billies Landing.  He didnt make it home.

Until we did the trip to Cape York this year, it didnt enter my mind at all, about the road carnage along the development road or the roads leading away to some fabulous places in Northern Australia.

Whilst we were traversing the Cape, we heard of three crashes just South Coen, where two vehicles rolled their camper trailers and then an international visitor lost their life, when the vehicle they were travelling in left the road and rolled.

I found the Development Road, not to bad, but in places where the gravel, bull dust and wash outs were, I can see how people get themselves into trouble.  As alot of the signs say up there, drive to the conditions and that includes the road conditions.

[Moto Mech]

IMHO, I think the roads are in TOO good a condition which allows people to drive to fast that dont know how too. Lets face it, 99% of people that drive on dirt roads do so only once or twice a year and have no idea how to drive on it.
I was glad to get off the Cape roads, to many idiots speeding with no regard for anyone. At least rough corrigated roads slow you down abit or eventually slow your vehicle down.
And any one on a bike up there, good luck your gamer than me and Ive ridden bikes all my life.
Sad to hear of the the bike riders death.

[Matto]

Unfortunately it happens.

We probably hear about it more because it's relatively local to us. As MM says, you take people on a big holiday, fill the car and camper to the gunnals, throw in a couple of crying kids and then stick the whole show on a dirt road, and these things can happen. It doesn't need to be overseas visitors in hired troopies.

As much of an anti-"every k over is a killer" guy as I am, most of it does involve inappropriate speed. Unfortunately the main issue around here is that one minute you can be travelling along quite a good section of road with no problems, and doing so quite safely. Come around a bend and find the road drops away and has been washed out, and suddenly you're going 30kph too fast with over a ton of trailer pushing you and loose gravel under your tyres.

It's still sad news. Hopefully others will hear of his death and drive a bit more mindfully, at least then the situation might not be repeated and some small good will have come of it all.

Take care out there people.
Matto

[Kit_e_kat9]

Tragic.  The article doesn't give much detail of the incident though.


I believe "Driving to the Conditions" implies Common Sense ... which is something people can't buy on EBay and I don't think some folk change their driving style to suit roads they've never driven on before either.  Being on holidays doesn't mean you should let it all go out the window, but some do.

Kit_e

[jclures]

One thing every one forgets, these roads are for locals as well as tourists, so when you say the roads are to good, you should think of the locals that have to use the roads daily not once a year for a holiday.
Another issue I have, and from experience are motorbike riders on these roads, travelling two abreast, it leaves no room for error, not that I am saying that is what happened in this instance but, on gravel roads it seem silly to me to say the least, and I think I have done enough riding on gravel to have an opinion on this.

[Frostd]

Some very good points . We were stopped about 40 Km's south of Coen, trying to get my mates (Steveandviv) Paj going. He did an idler pulley, but with a little patients and muscle, we got him going and limpted back to Coen to be fixed.  But whilst we were stopped on the side of the straight stretch of road, as far off the road as possible, 4WD's towing caravans and Campers continue to hurtle past, not slowing at all. As Kit_e_kat9 said, driving to conditions means, use your common sense and slow down. You should make it home and have a great trip.

[McGirr]

I have seen many accidents at the Cape. They just rush to get to places. The corners are the most dangerous as they get badly corrugated and they just bounce off the road. I have had tag-a-long groups over take me in the dust, cars sitting up peoples arses in the dust to try and overtake, cars cuting corners, trailors flip etc

Yes drive to conditions and always drive with lights on even high beam at least people can see you in the dust especially if you have a dark coloured car.

When we hired out campers I have had 2 roll and get written off and the people hiring them try and blame me !!!!!

Mark     

[Gunna Do]

I think perhaps a lot of people make their journey to the tip all about exploring things on the way up there (travelling north) and then when they get to the top they have a mad dash for home (travelling south) due to time constraints.  The madness on the Development Road was one of the main reasons we decided to travel the OTL both ways, to stay away from the faster sections of road as much as possible.

[Bill]

The road to Captain Billy's landing turn off is the road that I became very anxious and cried to go home - Not the actual road but the speed at which approaching vehicles where doing - The dust was blinding and so many drivers were going as fast as they could on the corrugations and swinging out onto the wrong side of the road on the corners- We had traveled the OTT and up to the tip then drove from Cpt. Billys out to Weipa but this road made me cringe .  Morag - ( Bill didnt cry just me )

[Matto]

From the QPS feed on facebook, quarter of an hour ago...

Police are currently at the scene of a serious two vehicle traffic crash on the Peninsula Development Road at Archer River near Coen.

Shortly before 1.30pm Police were advised of the crash involving a truck and a four-wheel-drive.

It is understood at least two people have sustained serious injuries.

There is no further information available at this time.

Sad to hear of another serious crash so soon.
Matto 

[Bill]

Was just going to post this myself - People go stupid on corragations - they need to slow down - sad another accident so soon

[Matto]

Unfortunately it's now officially a fatal accident. Sounds like it might get worse.

Police have confirmed a fatality following a two vehicle traffic crash on the Peninsula Development Road, about 5 kilometres outside Archer River.

Shortly before 1.30pm, police attended the scene of the crash involving a truck and a four-wheel-drive.

It is understood the occupants of the four-wheel-drive have sustained serious injuries.

There is no further information available at this time.

A comment straight under from 4WD Queensland:

Four Wheel Drive Queensland - We have reports from 4WD members that there have been a lot of these types of accidents this season. Please take care and slow down.

and

Four Wheel Drive Queensland - Just heard from a member who is up that way, she said the following: "The Development Road is heavily corrugated and there have been many accidents this year. People just don't slow down... that stretch at Archer River - there was another bad accident there about 2 weeks ago... serious injuries.... just not worth it." - Take care everyone

Hopefully people will take this advice to heart.

Matto

[SteveandViv]

I can only echo what Frostd and others have said. At some stages I was scared at the speed people went past us and the dust made it all the worse in that I couldn't see and had to slow to 20k or so.

There are a ton of signs posted all over QLd as well *Gravel Roads - Drive to the conditions* but clearly there are too many rally drivers out there that don't need to follow the signs - sad

[Mav]

It is the same here in the Red Centre where we get tourists who mostly have never driven anything bigger than a Mini in their home country but then come here and get off the plane into a 6 berth campervan. Their understanding of road rules leaves a lot to be desired, I shake my head daily here in Alice when I see what some people try to do with hired campers.

[GU Rich]

Thoughts go out to all the family and friends of those involved.
I have never been to Cape so can't comment on the driving patterns up there, But I know when we did the Gibb River Road last year we commented more than once on the driving habits of people travelling the roads. At times I wondered if they even saw us..

Cheers
Rich

[morgue]

I agree with many on this thread,people do'nt appreciat their limits road conditions and the vehicle trailer combination etc.

When I was travelling around the Flinders, I was in a troopy V8 diesel, not the most comfortable ride, felt every bump, you had to drive the Troopy and concertrate. I was sitting on about 60kph, blokes were passing me with like there was no tomorrow with their trailers bouncing around behind them, throwing up dust and stones as they flew past.
It seems with the technology in many 4wds involving ride and suspension systems, it has divorced the driver away from the feel feedback you get through the chassis when driving on gravel roads.
Where as 15years ago you knew you were steering a 4wd, nowdays, its one hand on the steering wheel and the elbow out the window doing 100kph roaring down the dirt road with the satnav and  Aircon ticking away, drivers are getting sucked into the feeling security.

[Matto]

At times I wondered if they even saw us...

Or any of the scenery that they drove so far to see...

Thanks,
Matto

[jetcrew]

Very sad to hear of loss of life on what is supposed to be a fun time for families.

We often bring the judgment stick out in these cirrcumstances ,however maybe it was the truck at fault not the 4wder on holidays or maybe they were at fault .

I guess what I'm trying to say and not sound to harsh is that I hope whoever was at fault is the one who paid the price.

And if it was no one's fault then it's an even sadder episiode

Far to often in life it's the people who do nothing wrong that pay the ultimate price.

I have towed a boat to Weipa for 6 of the past 7 years ,and have seen the road improve beyond sight ,and agree with the comments about speed. With new suspension systems and  adevancments in 4wds it is quite easy to go faster than you should and not know till it's to late.

Very sad

Jetcrew

Edit - Where as 15years ago you knew you were steering a 4wd, nowdays, its one hand on the steering wheel and the elbow out the window doing 100kph roaring down the dirt road with the satnav and  Aircon ticking away, drivers are getting sucked into the feeling security.

WELL SAID morgue

[Matto]

Right you are jetcrew. We know nothing about the circumstances of the accident, or anything else about it for that matter. Who knows what was the cause, could have been anything or nothing.

All we do know is that, as you've pointed out, it's going to be a very sad time for someone's family. It's right that we respect that.

Condolences to those involved and affected.
Matto

[Frostd]

Right you are jetcrew. We know nothing about the circumstances of the accident, or anything else about it for that matter. Who knows what was the cause, could have been anything or nothing.

All we do know is that, as you've pointed out, it's going to be a very sad time for someone's family. It's right that we respect that.

Condolences to those involved and affected.
Matto

x 2

[TroyE]

x3
life is to short to rush when on holidays

troy

[crackacoldie]

I believe "Driving to the Conditions" implies Common Sense ...

I agree with Kit_e on this, however, if common semse was so common, more people would have it.

Cracka

[darren]

I hate  these threads... People commenting on an accident that they know nothing about and preaching how richeous they are.

Don't you all remember a little while back there was a thread like this and a relative of someone involved in the incident was a member? You all felt pretty small after he posted..... then again you obviously don't remember.
Who ever was at "fault" there is a family having a f*cked time right now.. and will for a very long time...

[BigBlock1DT6]

I hate  these threads... People commenting on an accident that they know nothing about and preaching how richeous they are.

Don't you all remember a little while back there was a thread like this and a relative of someone involved in the incident was a member? You all felt pretty small after he posted..... then again you obviously don't remember.
Who ever was at "fault" there is a family having a f*cked time right now.. and will for a very long time...

I Agree
See this to often in forums

An accident is a specific, unpredictable, unusual and unintended external action which occurs in a particular time and place, with no apparent or deliberate cause but with marked effects. It implies a generally negative outcome.

[Frostd]

I hate  these threads... People commenting on an accident that they know nothing about and preaching how richeous they are.

Don't you all remember a little while back there was a thread like this and a relative of someone involved in the incident was a member? You all felt pretty small after he posted..... then again you obviously don't remember.
Who ever was at "fault" there is a family having a f*cked time right now.. and will for a very long time...

Darren, I didnt start this thread to make comment on how the accident or accidents happened, who was at fault or anything like that.
It was about making people aware that things can be dangerous on the cape if you are not aware of the road conditions and to make people aware to slow down on the dirt roads. You are on holidays, enjoy it and make sure most of all, you come home .  I dont think we can make comment on any accident unless you were there and I believe árm chair'critics do not help the cause. This isnt ment to offend people.