4 July 2024
We set off from Port Headland very early, aided each by a Sausage and Egg McMuffin Meal with a Large Cappuccino from McDonalds for breakfast — a ‘go to’ option when we want a hassle free (read lazy) departure. It was raining lightly as we were leaving, and only got heavier on our drive to Tom Price along the Great Northern Highway. This is the main road transport route into some of the biggest iron ore mines in the Pilbara.
Along this road, as well as Karijini Drive that passes right through the middle of Karrijini National Park, there were so many 4-dog road trains carrying (or about to carry) iron ore. They were literally everywhere, including at the rest stops along the way.
You can just see tiny Knight Riders in the distance.
It has to be said though, that the drivers are fantastic at helping to let you know when it is safe to pass them. Great work guys!
My experience has been that you can tell the size of the vehicle coming towards you as follows:
- Pilot vehicle travelling at a decent speed in its own lane with a single flashing light — something a little oversize coming, so be aware.
- Pilot vehicle travelling slower and more towards the middle of the road, with a few flashing lights — something of a decent size coming towards you, so get over a fair way.
- Pilot vehicle travelling pretty slowly, driving in the middle of the road, with blue and red flashing lights, and the driver is trying to talk to you out of the window — something massive coming, pull over to the side of the road, and get your camera out and take some photos / video.
Here’s an example of the second dot point above …
Big truck and oversize vehicle coming at us.
And here’s an example of the third ….
Getting right off the road for this one at Tom Price.
And another example of “Time to get off the road and park it up.
So, that’s vehicles coming at you. Then you have the issue of when you catch up to one heading in the same direction as you. Normally if you catch one, you’ll be waiting a long time to be allowed past.
A quick sidebar here. Travelling back from Longreach to Rockhampton for work one time, we got stuck behind an absolutely massive piece of machinery that we weren’t allowed to pass. We (my Manager and I) had been stuck behind it for half an hour or so, so as we approached Barcaldine, we hatched a cunning plan. As we got to the town, knowing it would have to traverse the main street of Barcaldine fairly slowly, we took a right and then a left to put us on the street parallel to the main road, but one block off. I then proceeded to drive as quickly (and safely!) as possible down the side road, through multiple intersections, to make our overtake. It was touch and go for a bit, but as we turned left and then prepared to turn right on to the main highway, we could see the pilot vehicle about half a block away. Great success!
However, travelling south from Port Hedland to Dampier, we came across another haul truck being hauled. As we approached, the pilot vehicle started letting some vehicles past. As I reached the pilot vehicle, I put the window down to quickly check with the pilot vehicle driver if I was OK to pass. His response? “What are you waiting for mate, just go for it!”
Just go for it mate!
Perhaps we could all take this principle on more in our lives. Such wisdom in unexpected places.
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