As thousands of travellers hit the road this week on route to the Big Red Bash in Outback Queensland, event organisers are urging festival-goers to take proper road safety precautions.
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More than 9000 festival goers are expected to attend the world's most remote music festival, which this year runs from July 16-18, headlined by Midnight Oil.
"The trip to the Big Red Bash via road is an amazing visual and cultural experience, no matter where you're travelling from in Australia - but it also means a very lengthy journey over many hours and an array of road conditions," said Big Red Bash Founder and Organiser, Greg Donovan.
"We urge anyone driving to the Bash to be vigilant in taking breaks, following speed limits, getting off the road before dark, and brushing up Outback Driving at our guide at www.bigredbash.com.au."
Some of the key advice Big Red Bash Organisers are emphasising include:
Get off the road before dark to decrease general risks and risks associated with hitting kangaroos. If one appears in front of you, break heavily but keep straight - but don't swerve.
On single-lane sealed roads, slow down and get completely off the road when something comes the other way (especially large vehicles and road trains). If you let the other vehicle stay on the sealed surface you won't get sprayed with rocks. If other vehicles get off for you first, thank them by staying completely on the bitumen so they don't get sprayed with rocks either.
On dirt roads, pull off to the left and come to a complete stop if a large vehicle goes the other way and raises dust. Wait until the dust clears before continuing.
Stick to the speed limit, don't rush, follow drug and alcohol laws and take breaks at regular intervals.
Avoid driving in the dust of someone else's vehicle. Slow down, drive to conditions.
Drive well to the left and don't overtake queuing vehicles. Never overtake when it's dusty.
Run at about 20-25% lower than highway tyre pressures once event vehicles hit the dirt roads. For heavy vehicles, drop down to approximately half of normal highway pressures. This has helped avoid any blowouts on the dirt over several years of Bash travel with heavily laden vehicles.