Latest news with #4WD
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Sad outback photo sparks warning to Aussie drivers over little-known road rule
An experienced outback traveller is urging Australian motorists to stay vigilant on rural roads, especially in regions with roaming livestock — highlighting not just the serious safety risks of animal collisions, but the potential legal consequences for drivers as well. Simon Christie is a well-respected voice in the 4WD and touring community in Australia and shared a disturbing example that highlights the dangers. A photo taken at the time of the incident shows a cow that was killed on an outback road northeast of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, after it was obscured by a cloud of dust created by a passing truck before it was ultimately hit by the driver of a ute. Simon snapped a photo of the collision aftermath when it happened last year but recently shared it with a caravanning community page online before describing the confronting scene to Yahoo News. "A truck was coming the opposite way, and a dual-cab ute was heading the same way as us, just in front. In the dust behind the truck, a cow suddenly stepped out onto the road," Simon said. "The ute had a proper steel bull bar fitted and was travelling at a safe speed, but it couldn't avoid the cow. It hit it head-on, and the impact instantly killed it. "The cow landed in the middle of the road, and the driver pulled over safely, and we were able to pull up behind them. Thankfully, they were medically fine, and the vehicle only had minor damage — it was completely driveable thanks to the bull bar." Simon said this reflects how conditions can change in an instant, especially on dark, outback roads, and it highlights the life-saving benefits of having a proper bull bar fitted. "We helped drag the cow off the road using a recovery chain attached to the back of my caravan, because leaving it on the road would have been incredibly dangerous — especially at night," he said. "Someone else could have hit it, including a semi-trailer, which could cause a major crash. Plus, the carcass could attract predators like foxes and dingoes, creating more road hazards." Simon, of 4WDTV, arrived at "just the right time to help" and was able to tow the animal off the road despite also towing a caravan himself. But, "incidents like this are actually quite common", and he encouraged drivers to be aware of how they can stay safe in the event of similar scenarios. Calls grow for total 4WD ban on Australian beaches Outback neighbours in bitter $400,000 battle over 28km fence Air crew makes exciting 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery in outback "If someone hits livestock, and they're equipped and know what they're doing, moving the animal off the road is the right and responsible thing to do. A lot of four-wheel drivers carry recovery gear, like winches and drag chains, and can do it safely," he said. "Night-time adds to the risks — poor visibility makes it harder to spot animals. That's why our vehicles are fitted with steel bull bars and a lot of aftermarket lighting — front, side, and corner lighting. It's basically as close to daylight as we can make it." He said the overarching message is simple: be aware, understand the risks, and drive to the conditions. "If that means slowing down, then slow down," he said. "And if you need to drive at night, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped — bull bars and lighting are essential. Factory headlights alone aren't enough out here." It's also important to consider the legalities, Simon said, adding that in some states, if livestock is on a road and is hit, the driver may be liable for the animal's death — or vice versa. "If the road is fenced and the animal got through a broken gate or fence, the farmer might be liable. But on unfenced roads with cattle grids, like in the outback, it's your responsibility to drive with caution, the animals are allowed to roam," he said. Drivers "should absolutely report these incidents", either to local authorities or the nearest town. "That can help with insurance, too, and it makes sure others are aware of the hazard," Simon added. A spokesperson from the Everything Caravan and Camping group, who shared the photo initially, echoed Simon's plea. "The key message for caravan owners, and all travellers, is to stay vigilant, particularly in outback areas where conditions can change quickly and visibility can be poor," a spokesperson told Yahoo. "Hitting an animal can be tragic and extremely dangerous, not just for the driver but for anyone else on the road. "And while every incident is different, we always encourage travellers to act with care and responsibility. If it's safe and legal to do so, removing roadkill can help prevent further harm to others, as Simon and his team did in this case." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Brutal outback photo sparks warning to Aussie drivers: 'Consider the legalities'
An experienced outback traveller is urging Australian motorists to stay vigilant on rural roads, especially in regions with roaming livestock — highlighting not just the serious safety risks of animal collisions, but the potential legal consequences for drivers as well. Simon Christie is a well-respected voice in the 4WD and touring community in Australia and shared a disturbing example that highlights the dangers. A photo taken at the time of the incident shows a cow that was killed on an outback road northeast of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, after it was obscured by a cloud of dust created by a passing truck before it was ultimately hit by the driver of a ute. Simon snapped a photo of the collision aftermath when it happened last year but recently shared it with a caravanning community page online before describing the confronting scene to Yahoo News. "A truck was coming the opposite way, and a dual-cab ute was heading the same way as us, just in front. In the dust behind the truck, a cow suddenly stepped out onto the road," Simon said. "The ute had a proper steel bull bar fitted and was travelling at a safe speed, but it couldn't avoid the cow. It hit it head-on, and the impact instantly killed it. "The cow landed in the middle of the road, and the driver pulled over safely, and we were able to pull up behind them. Thankfully, they were medically fine, and the vehicle only had minor damage — it was completely driveable thanks to the bull bar." Simon said this reflects how conditions can change in an instant, especially on dark, outback roads, and it highlights the life-saving benefits of having a proper bull bar fitted. "We helped drag the cow off the road using a recovery chain attached to the back of my caravan, because leaving it on the road would have been incredibly dangerous — especially at night," he said. "Someone else could have hit it, including a semi-trailer, which could cause a major crash. Plus, the carcass could attract predators like foxes and dingoes, creating more road hazards." Simon, of 4WDTV, arrived at "just the right time to help" and was able to tow the animal off the road despite also towing a caravan himself. But, "incidents like this are actually quite common", and he encouraged drivers to be aware of how they can stay safe in the event of similar scenarios. Calls grow for total 4WD ban on Australian beaches Outback neighbours in bitter $400,000 battle over 28km fence Air crew makes exciting 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery in outback "If someone hits livestock, and they're equipped and know what they're doing, moving the animal off the road is the right and responsible thing to do. A lot of four-wheel drivers carry recovery gear, like winches and drag chains, and can do it safely," he said. "Night-time adds to the risks — poor visibility makes it harder to spot animals. That's why our vehicles are fitted with steel bull bars and a lot of aftermarket lighting — front, side, and corner lighting. It's basically as close to daylight as we can make it." He said the overarching message is simple: be aware, understand the risks, and drive to the conditions. "If that means slowing down, then slow down," he said. "And if you need to drive at night, make sure your vehicle is properly equipped — bull bars and lighting are essential. Factory headlights alone aren't enough out here." It's also important to consider the legalities, Simon said, adding that in some states, if livestock is on a road and is hit, the driver may be liable for the animal's death — or vice versa. "If the road is fenced and the animal got through a broken gate or fence, the farmer might be liable. But on unfenced roads with cattle grids, like in the outback, it's your responsibility to drive with caution, the animals are allowed to roam," he said. Drivers "should absolutely report these incidents", either to local authorities or the nearest town. "That can help with insurance, too, and it makes sure others are aware of the hazard," Simon added. A spokesperson from the Everything Caravan and Camping group, who shared the photo initially, echoed Simon's plea. "The key message for caravan owners, and all travellers, is to stay vigilant, particularly in outback areas where conditions can change quickly and visibility can be poor," a spokesperson told Yahoo. "Hitting an animal can be tragic and extremely dangerous, not just for the driver but for anyone else on the road. "And while every incident is different, we always encourage travellers to act with care and responsibility. If it's safe and legal to do so, removing roadkill can help prevent further harm to others, as Simon and his team did in this case." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
NSW flooding death toll rises to four
It's the third death of a driver since the mid-north coast was inundated with heavy rainfall and rapidly rising floodwaters on Tuesday. More than 675 flood rescues have been conducted, including 177 in the 24 hours to 5am Friday, the SES said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns planned to visit one of the worst-affected regions, Taree, on Friday morning, but were forced to turn back to Maitland because of the weather. But the SES is ramping up efforts to get supplies through. "There have been some communities that have been cut off for quite some time, where vehicles can't get in," NSW SES deputy commissioner Damien Johnson said. "What we've got is helicopter drops occurring with essential food and medications as well ... we will have significant requests coming in the coming days as well." The slow-moving trough that dumped months of rain over the mid-north coast has shifted south, bringing heavy falls to the Hunter, Blue Mountains, Sydney and Southern Highlands. That will deliver dry conditions in the flood-ridden areas but residents are not out of the woods yet. "We do still have several flood warnings current for the mid-north coast area … some of those rivers are only falling very slowly," Bureau of Meteorology's Jane Golding said. "There are waters still moving quite quickly through the river systems, a lot of debris around so it's quite dangerous." Wind is also expected to pick up on Monday and Tuesday, potentially uprooting trees and buildings from sodden soil. ☔ In the last 24 hours from 5am, NSW SES has had 1,535 incidents reported including 177 flood are currently 153 warnings in place for areas across the state. For safety advice and information: — NSW SES (@NSWSES) May 22, 2025 Mr Albanese urged impacted communities to exercise common sense, in light of multiple deaths linked to drivers entering floodwater. "That is a tragedy for them, for their families and for the local communities," he told Triple M Newcastle radio. One of the deaths came after a police officer travelling in convoy with a four-wheel-driving woman when they came across water over a road near Dorrigo on Wednesday night. The officer checked the water level, which was "ankle deep", and told the woman he wasn't continuing in his sedan and advised her to be cautious and not enter floodwaters. The woman phoned the officer 30 minutes later saying she was in trouble about 17km away, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said. She was found dead inside the 4WD on Thursday. On the same day, a man was found in floodwaters west of Port Macquarie, while a 63-year-old man's body was found on a flooded home's verandah near Taree. There are grave fears for another man who's missing in Nymboida and police aren't ruling out floods being a factor in the disappearance of a man in Bellingen. Police also warned drivers in metropolitan Sydney to exercise caution in wet weather after two deaths overnight - including a 95-year-old hit by a car in Liverpool. Heavy falls potentially totalling 150mm in 24 hours could bring flash flooding at Goulburn and south to Bega, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned. Disaster assistance from the state and commonwealth governments has been expanded, with 19 areas now eligible for support. Specialist disaster lawyers would provide free advice about rejected insurance claims, housing issues and assistance grants, Legal Aid NSW said.
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Man killed after 4WD loses control and crashes into electric pole in Port Dickson
PORT DICKSON, May 22 — A man was killed when the four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle he was driving lost control and crashed at kilometre 2.8 of Jalan Pantai here yesterday. Port Dickson police chief Supt Maslan Udin said in the 2.30 am accident, the 33-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe head injuries. He said the front seat passenger, in his 30s, sustained minor injuries. 'Preliminary investigations revealed they were travelling from Port Dickson to Kuala Lumpur. Upon reaching the location, the vehicle lost control, overturned, and spun several times before crashing into an electric pole, which broke upon impact. 'The vehicle veered off and struck a fence, causing the driver to be thrown from the vehicle and entangled in the fencing, he said in a statement tonight. Maslan said the driver did not have a valid driving license and had four prior offences related to drugs and crime. He said the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. — Bernama
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Clueless driver is slammed for idiotic act in croc-infested floodwaters: 'Never do this'
A 4WD motorist has been slammed after his attempt to cross croc-infested floodwaters almost went terribly wrong and sent his vehicle floating downstream. A Northern Territory fisherman had been standing on the edge of the swollen Magela Creek at Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory, last month. A Toyota LandCruiser then pulled up and attempted to cross the water despite a 'road closed' sign being set up nearby. The fisherman filmed the daring venture with footage showing the car push through the floodwaters before it stopped at the halfway point. 'Drive, drive, drive,' the fisherman yelled at the driver in the TikTok video. The SUV appeared to float in the water prompting the fisherman to try and assist the driver. He ran to a car parked on the side looking for rope to try and haul it back in when the stranded driver was hit by a stroke of good luck. The water appeared to turn the floating 4WD around before the vehicle appeared to reconnect with the road. @chrispodesta0 Never cross rivers that are flooded ! This fella was very lucky as he just managed to get traction. Could have ended so much worse. Drowning or eaten by crocs. #Darwin #flood #landcruiser #toyota #very lucky ♬ original sound - Pod From Tassie! The vehicle managed to make it back with a front seat passenger opening the door to release the water that had poured in. The two men inside the 4WD appeared wet and explained they felt the vehicle floating upwards. The video has been viewed more than 300,000 times and attracted comments from social media users warning drivers not to risk their lives. 'Never cross rivers that are flooded!' the cameraman wrote. 'This fellow was very lucky as he just managed to get traction. Could have ended so much worse. Drowning or eaten by crocs.' The Kakadu National Park is home to an estimated 10,000 freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. Many social media users were shocked the driver attempted to cross the creek without first checking the depth. 'How many times do people have to be told, if it's flooded, forget it, don't drive through it,' one wrote. 'Why would you attempt this?' another asked. 'If you can't walk it, you can't drive it (old truckie proverb),' a third wrote. Others pointed out the pair should have followed the directions of the road signage. 'If only there was a sign or something to tell people not to use that part of the road,' one remarked sarcastically. 'Maybe something like "road closed".' '[Then] they drive past a water marker at [the] top of their tyre marker, no f***ing idea,' another added.
