Gripe time.
The Doc is surprised that the number of accidents and fatalities in The Kimberly is not much higher. Some of the stupidity witnessed beggars belief.
The way people risk their lives and others is also of concern.
Fatalities
There was 3 fatalities on the trip. The first two were from the Mt Hart Aboriginal community. Both were not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the car and killed on the Gibb River Road. An avoidable tragedy, if they were wearing seatbelts (the survivors were all wearing seatbelts).
The other was a young German tourist, 19 years old, who walked on the edge of a gorge and it gave way. He fell 20 meters and was killed. There were signs everyone in Karijini warning against this.
These tourist destinations do not draw much attention to the deaths, for obvious reasons. At Mitchell Falls and Karijini tourists die, and it is not an unusual event. A local said it happened most years at Karijini. Hint: if country folk put up a sign to warn of a danger, they mean it.
These poor souls paid a high price for making bad choices. But they are not alone. The Doc has grouped the others into Yahoos, Bogans and Tossers.
Yahoos
This group includes the litter bugs, who seem intent on ruining Australia. It will lead to one thing: locking up more parts of remote Australia. Shame on you.
A Ranger told me the Euros, or European tourists, were big offenders. While The Doc is at it, Euros please slow down, you are not driving on an Autobahn but rough, punishing outback roads. One Troopy was being driven so fast down the Cape Leveque Road it looked like it was on a pogo stick!!!!!!!!!!! You are not in control of your car.
Drawing “aliens” on mud flats at Wyndham probably also qualifiers for this group. Hint: think men’s genitals. One of the vistas from Five Rivers Lookout, click here.
Bogans
The Doc slowing down and moving to the side of the road is not an invitation to go flat out down the middle of the road covering him in rocks and dust. Bogan. Unfortunately, a very frequent occurrence.
Learn how to drive properly on outback roads, here are some hints.
When you see a trailer, table and chair in the campgound, it means someone is camped there, before you. So do not set up camp all around the table! Bogans.
Dual cab Hilux wins the award for the most overloaded car on the Gibb River Road.
Tossers
The group who endanger not only themselves but other road users. Like the Toyota 100 Series driver that sped past The Doc on the Gibb River Road.
The Toyota 80 Series driver who over took me on a dirt track, by driving on the side of the track at over 90kmh. Try using the UHF and let The Doc know you were there, he would happily pull over and let you pass safely.
The fool at Karijini who overtook The Doc as he was overtaking another car – a double takeover on a dirt track.
The rogue truckie who turned his high intensity light array when driving towards The Doc and left them on, deliberately. The sooner tossers like you lose their licence the better.
A lot of Prado drivers.
The Doc now feels better 🙂
