Four Wheel Drive Safety
Readers Write...Safety Barriers
From 4X4 AUSTRALIA - No 205
Dear Editor
The subject of my letter is cargo barriers, or the lack of them. My wife, son and I have recently returned from a trip to Lake Eyre. We drive a Holden Jackaroo and having been to Central Australia last year with friends via the Oodnadatta Track decided to return again to see the water in the lake. This turned out to be a brilliant trip and well worth the visit.
Whilst we were travelling the Oodnadatta Track one thing became painfully obvious, the lack of cargo barriers in some vehicles. There were a lot of family people who appeared to be doing their first big trip to the outback. Many of the vehicles towed expensive camper trailers and were fitted with roof racks and all manner of accessories. These were generally overloaded with gear piled high in the rear of them and no barrier to protect their families. It truly never ceases to amaze me that drivers can spend so much on expensive options yet fail to protect the occupants of the vehicle with something costing as little as a cargo barrier.
Today, the buying public are demanding safety options in their vehicles such as air bags and ABS brakes yet many fail to protect the vehicle occupants from flying luggage in the event of an accident.
| | A typical example of my concern was the story relayed to me by some people we camped with at Coward Springs. They told us of an accident they had come across several days earlier on the Stuart Highway. A girl had been killed after being struck on the head by the lid of a car fridge from the back of a station wagon.
When will people learn. It was certainly the first accessory fitted to my 4WD. Hope we see you in the bush some time, in front of a cargo barrier.
Barry Ledger,
Orange, NSW.
Thanks for your letter Barry and the very important point it raises. There's no doubt about cargo barriers - they save lives! Who would think a fridge lid could kill - but in a prang, anything heavier than a powder puff can cause injury and possibly even death. Cargo barriers are the way to go! Thanks again for your timely words of advice - Ed.
Letter of the month |