Preparing for the road ahead

By Samuel Smith
Published: Thursday, March 12, 2020

Like showering, dressing and chugging coffee, getting behind the wheel is second nature for most of us.

In fact, it’s alarmingly easy to drive to and from work, to the shops or to pick the kids up from school without much thought at all.

While we may have our local roads memorised down to the location of meteorite-sized potholes, congested side streets and hair-raising roundabouts, hazards are harder to avoid when venturing further from home.

In unfamiliar territory, driving is an entirely different ball game. From slippery gravel trails to tight mountain passes, here’s how to tackle 5 road types that are abundant in South Australia but feared by many.

1. Winding roads

Where you’ll find them: Most parts of the Adelaide Hills, especially Gorge Rd, Greenhill Rd, Upper Sturt Rd, Corkscrew Rd and Old Norton Summit Rd.

How to deal with them: Reduce your speed, especially around corners.

To increase visibility, turn on your parking lights. Before you set off, check your coolant, tyre inflation and engine oil level. When roads are narrow, give way to traffic going uphill, and, when approaching hairpin turns, ensure all your braking is done before you reach the corner. Do not brake through the apex of the turn, as this is a recipe for over-steer.

If you’re driving in mist or fog, dramatically reduce your speed and turn on your fog lights. Use your wipers to keep the windscreen clean, leave a greater distance between yourself and the car in front, and always keep an eye out for cyclists, pedestrians and wandering wildlife. In foggy conditions, obstructions can be even harder to spot.

Cyclists navigating winding roads in the Adelaide Hills. Image: SATC

2. Unsealed roads

Where you’ll find them: In all 12 of South Australia’s regions, especially the Flinders ranges and Outback.

How to deal with them: Sticking to a sensible, steady speed is key, as sudden acceleration and deceleration can lead to skidding. Where possible, try to drive in tyre tracks left by other vehicles, providing they aren’t too deep.

Turn smoothly, avoiding sudden movements, and try to leave a 6 second gap between yourself and the car in front. This is particularly important on gravel and dirt roads, as braking will take longer and visibility will be reduced due to dust, dirt and – potentially – debris from fellow motorists.

Adjust your speed and your driving to suit your vehicle’s capability. For example, a 4WD with high ground clearance will be able to tackle an unsealed road with greater ease than a smaller city vehicle. If you feel you need to drive slower than the speed limit to maintain control of your car, do so. The default speed limit is 100 km/h on unsealed rural roads, but this is often far too fast for safe travel.

If another car is approaching, slow down and pull as far to the side of the road as possible until they pass. Finally, make sure you plan ahead, as some unsealed roads aren’t suitable for 2WD cars at all.

If you drive on unsealed roads often, you should consider purchasing a car with ESC (electronic stability control). ESC is computerised technology that improves a car’s stability. It activates when it senses a loss of traction, adjusting brake control and engine speed to stabilise the vehicle.

Lake MacDonnell, Eyre Peninsula. Image: SATC, Lyndon O'Keefe

3. City streets

Where you’ll find them: Unsurprisingly, Adelaide’s CBD and surrounding suburbs.

How to deal with them: Expect to be frustrated. Even in relatively small cities like Adelaide, there’ll be times when you’ll wish you walked or caught the bus. In moments like these, keep calm and carry on, slowly and carefully.

Keep your eyes peeled for cyclists, erratic vehicles and pedestrians, even when traffic is at a standstill. Chances are, they’ll be as frustrated as you, and could dart out onto the road at any moment in an attempt to get ahead of the pack.

Plan your route, pick a lane and stick to it where possible. The fewer lane changes you have to make, the less stressful your journey will be. While traffic is crawling, it may be tempting to fiddle with your GPS or check your phone. Don’t. With so much happening around you, even one second of inattention could lead to disaster.

And, though it may seem obvious, try to avoid rush hour and always observe speed limits.

Streets throughout Adelaide's CBD. Image: SATC

There are already more than 40 EV chargers in Adelaide. Image: SATC

4. Highways and expressways

Where you’ll find them: All across SA. Major routes include The Southern Expressway, Northern Expressway, Port River Expressway, Princes Hwy and Dukes Hwy.

How to deal with them: Before you set off, refresh your merging knowledge – it’s not difficult or stressful if you know the rules.

Sadly, kangaroos and emus aren’t street smart. Keep your eyes peeled at all times – especially at dusk and dawn – as they’re known to run out onto the road at lightning speed with no prior warning.

Only overtake vehicles when it’s safe to do so. As a rule of thumb, you need a kilometre of clear road to safely pass a car travelling at 90km/h on a 110km/h road. Remember, you can’t legally exceed the speed limit, even when overtaking.

Take regular breaks when you’re tired, pay extra close attention to your blind spot, plan your fuel stops in advance, pack plenty of water and a first aid kit.

Flinders Ranges Way, Wilpena Pound. Image: SATC

5. Beaches and sandy trails

Where you’ll find them: Emu Bay, Coorong National Park, Silver Sands Beach, Lincoln National Park and Long Beach.

How to deal with them: Sand is one of the trickiest surfaces to drive on. 2WD vehicles may be able to handle some beaches, but if you’re tackling rugged, sandy trails, you’ll need a 4WD with decent ground clearance.

If you want to hit the beach in a 2WD vehicle, research your destination before heading off and take a range of precautions to avoid getting bogged. Stick to hard, firm sand, keeping away from the shoreline and soft, powdery sand. You should also deflate your tyres by around 10psi. Deflating your tyres increases their footprint and makes them less likely to sink into the sand, but remember to pump them back up before driving home.

Drive at low tide and allow plenty of time to return before waves start to encroach. It sounds like a no-brainer, but always check the weather before setting off and avoid driving on sand during heavy rain or stormy conditions.

Coorong National Park, Limestone Coast. Image: SATC

If you’re driving in deep sand, you may need to turn off your traction control. If it’s left on, it can put excessive stress on your engine and potentially bog your vehicle. If your car has a centre diff lock, now is the time to use it.

When tackling remote sandy beaches, it’s always better to travel with another vehicle. If you get stuck, you may need to be towed out. Also ensure you pack a shovel, snatch-straps, shackles and traction ramps.

Remember that Australian road rules apply on beaches. Your vehicle must be roadworthy and registered, you must wear a seatbelt and mustn’t drink-drive.

Finally, don’t trespass. Lots of beaches, especially in regional SA, are connected to private land. Before your inner Indiana Jones takes over, make sure you haven’t stumbled into someone’s backyard by accident.

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