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Guide · Outback travel ·

Outback driving tips: a safety checklist for long trips

By the Australia Travel Escapes editorial team · Who we are

Outback driving tips start with one idea: the trip is only safe if you plan it before you leave. Distances are huge, help is far away and the road can change fast. The Northern Territory Government says the Territory has vast distances between towns.

This checklist covers the road report, the car, water and fuel, fatigue, wildlife and road trains, and what to do if you break down.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Safe driving tips for interstate and overseas visitors; NT Government, Driving Australia.

Before you leave: plan the trip

Work out where you are going, how long it will take and how far apart the towns are. Do this at home, not on the road.

Check the road before you start. In the Northern Territory you can ring the free road report on 1800 246 199 from within Australia, or look at the Road Report website. It lists road closures, impassable roads, road works and restrictions on the main highways. Conditions change quickly, especially in the wet season from October to May. The government says the report is a guide only, so read it again as you go.

Check the weather forecast for the whole length of the trip too. Local tourist information centres can give good advice on the roads ahead.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Road Report website (archived 5 December 2008); NT Government, Safe driving tips for interstate and overseas visitors; NT Government, Driving Australia.

Check the car and the tyres

Every vehicle must be roadworthy and registered. Before a long trip, check the tyres, brakes, lights and windscreen wipers. Fix anything that is worn or not working. A car in good mechanical order is the best protection you have.

Pick the right vehicle for the road. A four-wheel drive track is no place for a conventional car or an inexperienced driver. If you hire a four-wheel drive, learn how and when to use it, and learn how to change a tyre safely before you need to. These vehicles sit higher and wind can push them around. The NT Government suggests using four-wheel drive on unsealed roads as well as on tracks.

Check your water, oil and tyres whenever you reach a town, and get repairs done before you head off again.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Safe driving tips for interstate and overseas visitors; NT Government, Driving Australia.

Water, food and fuel

Pack more food and water than you think you need. The NT Government says to work out your supplies from how long you will be on the road, and to always take more. Carry extra water in the car for emergencies, apart from what you drink along the way.

Fuel needs the same thinking. Towns can be a long way apart. Work out the distance between towns, as the NT Government advises, so you know whether to go on or turn back if you have car trouble.

A well stocked first aid kit is also worth having in case of an accident. This is general information, not medical advice.

If possible, the NT Government suggests taking an Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon, known as an EPIRB, which alerts emergency services with a satellite signal.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Driving Australia; NT Government, Safe driving tips for interstate and overseas visitors.

On the road: fatigue, wildlife and road trains

Long distances and high heat cause fatigue. The NT Government says to stop at least every two hours and to avoid driving more than eight to 10 hours a day. Tiredness builds slowly, and you may not notice that you are too tired to drive. Start the trip well rested and use rest areas for breaks. Keep clear of truck parking bays, which road train drivers need.

Avoid driving between dusk and dawn. Wildlife is most active then, and many roads are unfenced. Cattle, kangaroos, camels and donkeys can all wander onto the road. Slow down and sound your horn. Never swerve to miss an animal, because swerving is a common reason drivers lose control.

Give road trains room. Stay well back, and only overtake when you can see plenty of clear road ahead. After you pass, do not pull back in until you can see both of its headlights in your mirror. Caravans in road train areas must keep at least 200 metres from the vehicle in front, so do not drive in a convoy.

Rollovers are one of the most frequent crashes in the Territory. If a wheel drifts off the edge, keep the wheels straight and do not brake. Let the car slow down gradually, then ease it back onto the road. Never stop on the road to take photos. Park off the road where you will not affect other traffic.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Safe driving tips for interstate and overseas visitors; NT Government, Driving Australia.

Tell someone your plan

If you leave the main roads, leave your route and your return time with a person you trust. The NT Government suggests you even call at a police station and tell the local officers. Then keep to the plan. If you are late, someone knows where to start looking.

Short checklist before you go:

Sources for this section: NT Government, Driving Australia; NT Government, Safe driving tips for interstate and overseas visitors.

If you break down

The number one rule in a breakdown is never to leave your vehicle. The NT Government puts it that way in its advice to visitors, and it warns that some parts of the country can be very lonely and even fatal. Your vehicle also holds your water and supplies.

Stay calm, use your water slowly and wait where you are. If you told someone your plan, they will know where to look. If you carry a beacon, switch it on.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Driving Australia.

Sources

  1. NT Government, Safe driving tips for interstate and overseas visitors (archived 21 August 2008): web.archive.org
  2. NT Government, Driving Australia (archived 21 August 2008): web.archive.org
  3. NT Government, Road Report website (archived 5 December 2008): web.archive.org