Corowa Hume freeway crash ?

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lang

I think, particularly in view of the recent crash, there would be a sympathetic ear to allowing slower military vehicles the use of flashing lights (mandatory on tractors on the highway, why not slow military vehicles?).

Fun-runs and bike events all carry vehicles with flashing lights.

The Victorian regulations allow for particular cases.

Lang

Yes the local shire vehicles here , the roadside maintenance trucks and the tractors that slash the road verge , all have the flashing orange pimple in a prominant position. The local farmers with road registrered tractors, some have the rotating orange light onboard ( Is it a compulsory legal requirement for road use tractors ? ) The SES vehicles have them as well.

[motto (RIP)]

The driver of the Stalwart is no longer in intensive care. Although he is reported to have vertebrae damage, there is no damage to the spinal cord. He has a bruised heart, a fractured femur, broken ribs and an injury listed as 'glove removal injury' to the upper thigh and this is not a full list. I believe that he is expected to make a full recovery but this will take a long time.
I have not heard it confirmed but it is said that he was not found until three hours after the collision due to being flung into the trees/bushes on the side of the road.
This is not the first large ex military vehicle to be flipped on a highway. There was a photo in the Windscreen magazine a few years back of a DUKW amphibious truck upside down on top of the ARMCO railing alongside a motorway in the UK It was a very similar collision to this one.

David

[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.