Beware Dust from Road Trains

by Terry O'Callaghan
(Balwyn, Victoria)

Two weeks ago I drove along the Fairfield Leopold Road from Fitzroy Crossing to Windjana NP and did not expect to meet any road train on this 4 tonne limit road.

We in fact met two road trains coming in the opposite direction and one in particular was travelling at a fast speed and came around a bend and down into a dry creek dip creating a dust cloud that made it impossible for me coming the other way to see ahead as I was driving up out of the dip.

I braked to a stop and let the dust settle until I could see ahead and I was worried someone may have been following me and ran into the rear of my vehicle.

My advice is to not believe road limits and make a slow entry when driving around a bend and not being able to sight oncoming traffic.

On the Gibb I did find about 60% of vehicles coming in the opposite direction did slow when I slowed to around 20 km per hour and this minimised the dust. The rest needed a lesson in road courtesy where dust and stones are a problem.

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Jul 10, 2016
 road trains
by: Birgit

Hi Terry,
Very sensible warning.

I harp on and on about the importance of this and related issues in Destination Kimberley. Virtually all problems people might encounter on those drives could be avoided if everyone drove at a sensible speed.

Thanks for taking the time to write!

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