Country driving: What you need to know

Posted 7 November, 2018 Jeremy Rochow

There’s nothing like hitting the open road, whether it’s taking a road trip down the coast or up the river. However, country driving also brings with it risks and laws drivers aren’t usually exposed to while navigating city streets.

 

Overtaking

You’re cruising along listening to tunes on the radio and thinking of hitting the waves or casting a line, when you come up behind a B-double truck travelling at a slower speed. It might not feel like it, but sitting behind a truck for a few minutes won’t increase your travel time that much, so be patient and wait until it’s safe to overtake or you reach an overtaking lane.

 

If you decide to overtake on a single-lane road, there are a few safety measures to consider before doing so. You must only overtake when the white line nearest to the driver is broken, ensuring the road ahead is clear for an adequate distance, and that you’ve got enough time to return to the same lane without endangering the truck being overtaken and any potential oncoming traffic.

 

 

If your car’s travelling at 110km/h, it’ll take about 2km to safely overtake a 26m B-double travelling at 100km/h. Don’t floor it either – it’s illegal to break the speed limit even when overtaking. Overtaking a vehicle when it’s unsafe could cost you $355, plus $99 Victims of Crime Levy and 2 demerit points.  

Check the road to make sure no vehicles are overtaking you before signalling your own intention to pass. Also remember to leave a safe gap between your vehicle and the B-double, and only return to the lane when you’re a safe distance ahead of the truck.

 

Headlights

High beams from an oncoming vehicle can dazzle a driver and make it difficult for them to see the lanes and hazards on the road. The law states that if you’re within 200m of another vehicle – whether you’re approaching from the front or behind – you should switch off your high beams.

 

It’s also good practice to do this sooner to avoid dazzling other drivers. As well as blinding other drivers and causing a potentially dangerous situation, you could also face a $283 fine, plus $99 Victims of Crime Levy and 1 demerit point.