Safe Driving in the Outback

If you are a visitor to Australia – Welcome, it’s great to have you in our part of the world.

Similarly, if you are a first-time visitor to the Outback, again a friendly G’day to our adventure paradise. We hope you enjoy visiting as much as we enjoy living here.  

To ensure you have the best time, here are few tips to keep you safe.  

• Keep to the left …that’s the side we drive on.  Especially if you are cresting a hill, you can’t always see what might be approaching on the other side.  

• Kangaroos depending on where you come from are either cute furry bouncing oddities or Bloody pests……. One thing is for sure you don’t want to hit one. 

They are most active early morning and late afternoon and into the night so try avoiding driving then.  But they don’t all follow the rules…..  so be aware.  

• The roads are often narrow and not always sealed, with drop off edges that can cause damage to tyres and wheels and more.  

• Oncoming traffic will often mean you might need to move off the road partially or fully to allow passing, be prepared and act early, Slow down  to avoid windscreen damage.  

• On coming trucks and Road Trains – Generally let them have the whole road, it isn’t always practical for them to move, even partially, off the road. It is much safer to slow down and completely move off the narrow bitumen and let them roll by.  Don’t leave it until the last minute to show your intentions. Make your decision early to allow the truck driver to make his decision.  You really don’t want to have 53 meters of truck and up to 86 tyres throwing rocks at you.  

• If by chance you break down someone will usually stop to see if you’re OK and you might do the same for them at some stage. However, if no one comes along the safest place to stay is with the car, don’t try and walk to the next town or Cattle Station. Find some shade but don’t venture far from the vehicle. Outback Car Hire vehicles aren’t permitted to be driven “Off Road” so you’ll never be too far from help.  

• Be mindful many areas of Outback Queensland do not have mobile reception. The UHF radio in the vehicle has limited range  Protocols and how to use the UHF radio can be found in the glovebox. 

Emergency Roadside assistance is available for mechanical breakdowns.  

Contact the Outback Car Hire team.

Please note charges may apply for certain situations (check your Terms and Conditions)   

We are pretty friendly in the Outback so don’t forget to give your fellow travellers and truckies the one finger wave…… That’s the “index” finger…..  😊  

Stay safe and enjoy the beauty of Outback Queensland.