Corowa Hume freeway crash ?

[Ron King]

https://flic.kr/p/24yPLdD

[Lynn Eades]

There was also the Ferret, hit by the train....

[Little Jo]

Hi All

I am so glad to hear the driver in recovering from his injuries after his nasty accident coming home from Corowa. This is not the first time and I guess hopefully the last.

After a few very close shaves driving my 1942 MB Willies Jeep to club functions driving on freeways. When driving at the speed limit of 110 kilometres an hour and approaching a slow moving vehicle not realising until they are nearly upon you, can be very scary hearing the screech of breaks behind you.

It was after some incidents that I started using a commercial Orange Flashing warning light, when driving on major roads. Though I knew I was in breach of the law, I had my story ready in case stopped by police.

1. A safety device as a warning to other road users of a slow moving vehicle ahead.

2. Without a flashing light I was putting my self at risk and endangering other road users at risk of an accident.

3. Flashing Orange Lights are used as a safety warning by Farm Tractors, Current Military convoys, Vehicles accompanying wide loads on transports Plus a whole range of other vehicles, Ambulance, police, police, roadside assistance vehicles and council/shire vehicles. All use flashing lights to warn other road users to slow down.

4. But most of all for my own and other road users safety. I would rather pay a fine than be seriously injured or end up in a coffin.

I can honestly report I have never been approached by police or any other authority using flashing lights. When we travelling in a club convoy I was always placed as tail end Charley using flashing lights as a warning to other road users, particularly at night or in light fog,

I know from conversations with owners of older military vehicles, they relayed many stories of of concern of incidents. I would be happy to have too appear before a court judge and plead my road safety case, having taken what I believed to be a serious road safety aid, possibly preventing a death or serious injury.

Tony

[Richard Farrant]

Hi Tony
A point of correction, the Stalwart was heading for Corowa.

Regards
Richard

[lynx42]

I am so glad to here that Graham is on the improve. I agree with you, Tony Van Rohda, It is better to have a flashing light to warn other road users of a slow moving vehicle.

A couple of years ago we drove our 1916 Albion with a cruising speed of 12 miles an hour, from Bandianna to Corowa for the WWI theme. I had a flashing light on the rear tailgate up quite high and Jill followed along behind with the hazard lights on in our 4x4, she also had a flashing double light up on the roof and CAUTION SLOW VEHICLE signs on the rear of the trailer. I checked with the Wodonga police before heading off. All went well. In 2006 I drove her down the Hume Highway to Wangaratta in the break-down lane with Jill behind in the 4x4 with the flashing lights and my son in his Holden Maloo ute also with a flashing light on top and the signs across the back of the ute. The main problem on the highway was the truck drivers having a sticky-beak as they went past. Two semis actually kissed as they passed me because the drivers were both looking at the Albion not the road. Fortunately all was OK. Before we left Wodonga the police came out and they took a photo of the Maloo ute as they reckoned that they would never see one going so slow again.

Here you can see the light on top of the 4x4 when I pulled up for a quick stop.


IMGP5162.jpg

The veteran car clubs are currently approaching the Government to get the OK for slow vehicles to have warning lights on when out on the roadways.

Good luck Graham A.

Rick.

[Tony Smith]

If you'd pumped those tyres up a bit, I reckon you could top 13Mph!

[rob love]

Here in Canada there are usually provisions in the Highway Traffic Acts that you can be ticketed for driving too slow on the highways. There is always the possibility that jurisdictions can simply say the vintage vehicles are a traffic nuisance and legislate them off the highways. Some States in the US have legislation specific to ex-military vehicles, although some of those are aimed at their non-compliance to safety and emissions.