Road Hazard Warning, Macquarie Pass

[fezzick]

I know that a lot of members also ride the Illawarra for pleasure, so I'm just posting this up as a general warning.

Most of you would know that last Monday (21st) I crashed my lovely VFR on the Pass and wrote it off. The bike hit a diesel spill in a corner, and slid into the armco.

I'm OK apart from a sore thumb and bruising on my hip, but the bike, a good and loyal friend, has gone to God.

Some agitating on our part (Illawarra Riders) through the local media looks like it is having some effect. As of this morning, the RTA has announced that it's considering signage on the Pass warning of the dangers of diesel spills and the police have also said that they are keen to catch owners of vehicles who are making the Pass unsafe. Great news.

If you are riding the Pass, or ANY other road in NSW for that matter, and you see an oil or diesel spill, STOP.

Ring 000, yes, that's right, the emergency number. Ask for Fire and inform the fire operator when they come on that there isn't a fire and that no-one's life is in imminent danger. Tell them there is an oil/diesel spill on the road and its location and WAIT till the local RFS has come so that you can physically direct them to it and ensure that it is cleaned up satisfactorily.

When the clean-up is complete, ask for the Captain's name and phone number so that you can verify that you have reported the spill and that someone has taken official responsibility for the clean-up.

If every motorcyclist and every motorist does this every time that they encounter an oil spill, the authorities will get so sick of being called out to do these clean-ups that they will actually start doing something to stop them happening in the first place.

In the mean time, be especially wary on Macquarie Pass; right now (in the last 6 months or so) it has become very dangerous indeed with regular diesel spills making it very hazardous indeed.

Please don't become another statistic, and Report The Spill.

[jasonbw]

Thanks mate, enjoyed the read in page 3 today... good on you!

[seraph]

good work, taking rsponsibilty for the safety of other riders (and motorists in general) is a great idea to encourage. glad to hear you are ok too :) -J.

[dilbee]

Ive had this happen to me but with a lot of oil at a intersection of Borrowdale and Northern Rd about 2 yrs ago. But i was in my car and lucky for me the green light was there and i slid around the corner and nearly wiped out in the gutter. I suspected it was kids who had put down the oil as to see an aco. I saw two figures near by that night.
I went staright to the cop shop and told them how dangerous this was as if i had to pull up quick when it was red i would of been t-bonned if a car was coming past.
I think people who are at fault with oil and diesel on our roads should be fined a considerable amount as they are indangering lives.

[gazujc]

I think people who are at fault with oil and diesel on our roads should be fined a considerable amount as they are indangering lives.


It is an offence and they can be fined, but first they must be caught and in teh case of MacPass (or most other similar roads), catching is the problem.

IMO, the cases on MacPass are more likely caused by insecure loads on tradies utes (personal experience) or leaking loads from heavy vehicles (ie. drums, livestock etc) which can seem like leaking diesel/fuel tanks.

I doubt greatly that the MacPass issues are caused by locals who are upset with the lunatic fringe behaviour and deliberately target motorcyclists by coating the road surface with a slippery substance. If this was the case one would expect the 'issue' to be occurring in residential areas (ie. the top).

Either way, it is dangerous but it does occur on most heavily trafficked roads (ie. Silverwater Road), just that add corners and the propensity to 'twist the grip' and we have a recipe for disaster.



Garry