To protect and serve- Mackay Police

[Dot]

Had another look and that first cop car was over the double lines going around a bend, what ever the laws he was wrong and dangerous.

[Greynomad]

We rarely monitor Ch40 because of the choice language, and often the subject matter discussed.
We would have been caught short by this type of police escort, and in our Explorer, pulling over would have been a problem.
I note there was little run-off room where you encountered the convoy...

[madiesmum]

didn't you all see the escort van up front first - that would have been a give away something was coming.

[Dot]

Yep did see that AM but the issue with me is 1/ the time frame between the van and the load and 2/ the coppers over the double lines on a bend

[madiesmum]

Yep did see that AM but the issue with me is 1/ the time frame between the van and the load and 2/ the coppers over the double lines on a bend

I would have been pulling over at the sight of the van so that wouldn't have been a problem and yes bends do pop up when least expected

[dapope]

Yep did see that AM but the issue with me is 1/ the time frame between the van and the load and 2/ the coppers over the double lines on a bend

I would have been pulling over at the sight of the van so that wouldn't have been a problem and yes bends do pop up when least expected

Me too!!!
plenty of big loads to practice with in WA!!
Dot, The disco lights on the coppers cars flash to warn of a hazard, that's why they are there.
Even if you don't think they should be over the line, they are there to push YOU over to the left
Basically, the rule of thumb is, if the cops are escorting as WELL as the pilot vehicle, then be prepared to stop. 1st vehicle the warning, the second one the stopper, the tail end Charlie to give you the ticket

[Dot]

We found the wide loads escorts in WA to be very very good, nothing like the one Russell showed, always gave a long distance warning and most times another vehicle about 500mts before the load itself. Qld health, shonks, and copper road escorts all in same boat I guess. (and I still will not suck eggs)

[Craig]

With three escort vehicles warning you of a wide load, I'm sure (well, I hope) you would know what was going on . If for whatever reason you weren't monitoring ch40 then you simply needed to change it to 40 when the first escort passed and asked the question. This type of escort is pretty much common practice around the country. The police vehicle has to drive over the lines to warn the vehicles that don't have a radio (or don't monitor ch40) that there is a wide load approaching. If he didn't, then you would simply assume that it was just a cop car with it's lights flashing passing the other way .

A few weeks ago when driving from Perth to Cue along the Great Northern Hwy, we had around a dozen 8.5 mtr wides to contend with. Lesson learnt was don't travel that road on the weekends .

[SteveW]

Firstly, it shows the need to wake up and be prepared for what might be ahead when the escort vehicle comes past.
Secondly, the police car with lights flashing ought to be sufficient as a secondary warning without the need to put oncoming traffic in danger, however, I have seen that police tactic used to get the message across. I don't agree with it.
Thirdly, it proves the value of UHF 40 - provided the escort uses it. While they invariably do so for trucks they don't always recognize that most motor homes and many caravan tugs have CB.
Fourthly, we all should have passed the various evolutionary tests by now - none of us are going to produce offspring now anyway, ARE WE?

[Kelvin12]

Got to agree here with Dadope and Craig, escort vehicle would have been a first warning, first Police car straddling center lines a MAJOR warning, the second Police car, time to get right over or pull off the road completely. Better to get a bit of a scare, (warning) than to clip that wide load. Once those loads get rolling its bloody hard to slow them up. These type of loads do pick suitable roads to travel on with as many safety measures as possible, (width of road etc.). At times the roads used may not be 100% but that's Oz. At best slow down and be prepared to give them a wide berth they are doing the best they can.

Dirk