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Many outback roads in Australia have an unsealed or
gravel surface, including a number of roads shown on maps as highways. The surfaces of gravel roads vary considerably
and can include:
• heavy corrugations;
• hard stony
surfaces, sometimes with a lot of loose surface stones that may be sharp;
• very soft dust (bulldust) that can conceal large potholes;
• smooth
hard packed clay that is almost as smooth as bitumen to drive on when dry,
and quickly becomes impassably slippery when wet.
Always drive cautiously on gravel roads. Check road conditions before starting
out, and remember that if warning signs indicate that the road is closed it
means closed to all traffic. Roads
are closed not just to protect motorists from getting stranded, but also to
protect the road from damage. If you
ignore road closure notices you can be prosecuted and required to pay for
the cost of repairing the damage you do – which can be many thousands
of dollars. Also remember that a
stone thrown up by an oncoming vehicle can do considerable damage to your
vehicle, and the amount of damage is determined largely by the speed at
which you are travelling. Slow down
and keep well to the left to minimise the risk.
Many people advocate using lower tyre pressures on gravel
roads. Your choice will depend on
your vehicle and your preference, but as a rough guide consider dropping
the pressures about 20% below what you would use for high speed highway
travel, and limit your speed to about 85 km/h. This will give you a more comfortable
ride and will also give some protection to both the vehicle and the tyres from damage.
This is only a rough guide and you should take account of
manufacturer’s recommendations and advice of experienced users of
your vehicle type, as well as doing some cautious experimentation of your
own.
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