Dusty Outback towing warning

Police in far north Queensland are warning caravanners heading north for some winter sunshine to take extra care when travelling on unsealed Outback roads.

Senior Constable Aleda Day said that all motorists need to be patient and drive to road conditions, while caravanners in particular need to know the limits of their vehicles and drive accordingly.

"In the far north, not all roads are two lanes and sealed with bitumen. Driving on unsealed roads can be more difficult than driving on bitumen, especially when towing a caravan or camper," Constable Day advised.

The following tips were provided to help stay safe when travelling on unsealed roads in far north Queensland:

Dust can limit your visibility. If necessary, pull over, stop and wait for the dust to settle. Don’t forget to turn your lights on so other vehicles can see you.

When driving on country or remote roads, remember to keep an eye out for livestock and wildlife on the side of the road, especially at night.

Outback road trains can be up to 53.5 metres long (four trailers) so allow enough time to overtake safely, remembering to maintain your speed after doing so.

If you observe a road train coming towards you, you should slow down and/or stop after moving as far left as safe to do so, so the road train is able to stay on the hard surface of the road, as small shifts in weight can cause them to roll over.

Don’t forget heavy vehicles can take up to 600 metres to stop and require more room when turning, so don’t weave or cut in front of them.

If you have a UHF installed, use channel 40 so you can communicate with other road users, and they can communicate with you without having to change channels.