Can anyone hear me, we’re in Trouble - The Australian Magazine 24-25 Nov
- Thread starter SPOD_Here
- Start date
The SA Govt does provide something in return. The SA Desert Pass comes with maps and heaps of information which, it would appear, this family choose to ignore. I am hoping that this family did the right thing and did buy a desert pass because I have seen a lot out there who disn’t have a pass.
How much is complusory vehicle recovery insurance going to add to the cost of a desert pass?
And who bears the cost of GPS trackers and their monitoring cost?
It was never a life/death situation. It was only ever a vehicle recovery exercise.
Tink
cam04
Well-Known Member
I disagree. It is a designated remote area. People are welcome to attempt it but it isn’t a computer game where you just hit the reset button when you stuff up. If it was easy everybody would go. This mentality has softened and overpopulated places like Fraser Island which had natural limits (middle rock, the jump up etc) which made parts of it extremely remote but were bypassed for access by the masses and look at it now. Hardly an improvement. Leave the Simpson a remote area.
patrolgu4
Active Member
No way sir, not for the nanny state type, but no offense to expect backyarders to assist is a joke! If you read the article which was probably more hyped up then it ought to be, the failure in establishing clear expectations as to what happens when things go South is absolutely screaming at everybody. The buck passing between Mt Dare and Birdsville operators was clear to see. This event was not a life and death situation even by the long shot but I guess there is a fatigue setting in from those operators especially when they have go out to totally preventable cases. Its a goodwill of those people there but it can no longer suffice.
Yes, part of the problem is that there are too many unaware motorist out there as to what outback travel entails but to have 3rd world emergency service in such scenarios is a joke on us! Very bad joke. The vehicles do break down even to those best prepared, what happens when assistance is required
As I mention, if they want it Wild West like scenario where everyone for himself then stop gouging money from those who go there. Put up the huge sign up and disclaimers and be done with it. But NO, the nanny state is already there: 3 m from ground up flag, pay us the king ransom so you can observe loose used toil paper scattered on every bush, can't do that there can't go there, not allowed that and what else.
If the relevant organizations/people got together and established some common sense what if scenarios "modus operandi" it would go a long way.
Be honest and admit what would you do if something like this happened to you out there, would you be happy with the service rendered for the cash they gouge you for? Paying 10 grand for crank sensor seems like overkill but that's what it usually comes down to....
Yes I'm fully aware of that but the possibility is/was there for that to occur. Those maps and the info is not worth $150. I haven't even opened those maps, anyway the price admission is simply a racket, gouging etc. If they were serious about it instead of just raking the cash how about $50 access fee + $30 recovery insurance + $20 optional/recommended maps .
I think we need to stop looking at what this family did wrong and start evaluating what happens when chit hits the fan.
Regards
Albynsw
Well-Known Member
Not sure what fees they are gouging from you that they offer nothing in return?
I am not aware of any National Park in Australia that provides you with GPS trackers and offer a recovery service.
You aquire a permit for permission to enter an area nothing more, The rest is up to you to sort out and you are welcome to use whoever you choose to assist you, Mt Dare and Birdsville Roadhouse just happen to be the closest but it is not their responsibility
I have been in the Simpson more than a dozen times and had issues on two occasions and I had suitable comms with me to seek help from Birdville on one occasion and the other I contacted Mt Dare as they were closer, they advised me they were in the middle of a recovery and could not get to us for two days. They provided us with enough mechanical advice for us to do a bush repair and get out ourselves.
If we didn’t have a sat phone it would of been very different
patrolgu4
Active Member
Good stuff, made you laugh. Seriously though it would be interesting to see how many visitors go through Simmo and don't need any assistance/recovery and do cost scenario based on that. The user pays....
It seems that the only crime this family has done is that their car broke down in the middle of the Simpson desert. If they didn't no one would bat an eyelid
Next time you're that way and your car breaks down I'm sure 4x4 Earth crowd will handsomely vilify you for being unprepared.....
What this case shows is the lack and inconsistency of emergency support in the area so buyer be aware.
Have a fun
Mate, been across twice. Both times carried a sat phone. First time, hired one. Not that expensive. Next time I had my own. Plus both times I carried a PLB with a registered trip plan.
And there is no lack of emergency support out there. There may be some issues with the coordination of vehicle recoveries but I was prepared for those contingencies with plenty of extra water and food.
Tink
And there is no lack of emergency support out there. There may be some issues with the coordination of vehicle recoveries but I was prepared for those contingencies with plenty of extra water and food.
Tink
I don't recall anyone perishing in the Simpson for yonks. Why do you need to change anything? Wouldn't it be cheaper to tar the track if we wanted to take away any element of danger. These people were inconvenienced, nothing more. Fair dinkum, people do stupid things and die all the time. I'm actually sick of everyone trying to wrap the world in cotton wool to try and prevent it. It's anti-evolutionary and allows idiots to breed.
Blue_haired_man
Well-Known Member
Wow, just wow. There’s now people on this 4WD forum whinging about the fact that when you are in the least populated area of Australia there should be a racq style recovery service and further insurance for in the middle of bum f Idaho. Do you know what would be cheaper? To close it.
Let me put this in perspective, I live on a rural block. If I bog the tractor, do you know who pays for recovery...me. If a poacher cuts themselves climbing through my fence or breaks their ankle in the act of attempting to trespass on my property, with the sole intent of breaking the law, do yo know who pays...me, or in that case is why I need to purchase $20mil of public liability insurance.
It’s pretty bloody simple to me, if you want to whinge and bitch about spending a few extra days in the Simpson because you. a, can’t communicate to organise the recovery, b, struggle to get the money together, or c, didn’t take the adequate provisions, I’m sorry but you can buy a deck of cards and a carton of your favourite piss and stay home. The emergency services monitored the situation and didn’t deem a rescue as necessary, and guess what...no one died, no one even required hospitalisation from my recollection of the article.
And as I said previously, now she reckons dingoes will get her in the hallway on the way to the shitter, yeah bloody right.
They should buy a Prius and head to west end next holiday
Let me put this in perspective, I live on a rural block. If I bog the tractor, do you know who pays for recovery...me. If a poacher cuts themselves climbing through my fence or breaks their ankle in the act of attempting to trespass on my property, with the sole intent of breaking the law, do yo know who pays...me, or in that case is why I need to purchase $20mil of public liability insurance.
It’s pretty bloody simple to me, if you want to whinge and bitch about spending a few extra days in the Simpson because you. a, can’t communicate to organise the recovery, b, struggle to get the money together, or c, didn’t take the adequate provisions, I’m sorry but you can buy a deck of cards and a carton of your favourite piss and stay home. The emergency services monitored the situation and didn’t deem a rescue as necessary, and guess what...no one died, no one even required hospitalisation from my recollection of the article.
And as I said previously, now she reckons dingoes will get her in the hallway on the way to the shitter, yeah bloody right.
They should buy a Prius and head to west end next holiday
Kippie
Moderator
I am on the same boat as you, but I've put up a sign
"Trespassers, we don't call the police, we bury them"
D
Deleted member 69390
Guest
Why do you bury the police?I am on the same boat as you, but I've put up a sign
"Trespassers, we don't call the police, we bury them"
Rhett HS
Well-Known Member
That interpretation might be more intimidating to a potential trespasser.
Rhett HS
Well-Known Member
If we say the 25 recoveries per year mean a turnover of $250k per year, how much is too much to manage an insurance scheme for it? I dont think it stacks up yet, but its an interesting idea.
National parks could install a sign at each end making it clear that vehicle recoveries typically cost in the region of $10k, and half needs to be paid up front. Makes it more real to people.
National parks were organising a bore to be sunk on the rig road when i was there, to measure artesian water levels with respect to cattle farming. Building their case data. I dont know if that was paid by separate grants or who knows what, or the park fees.
National parks could install a sign at each end making it clear that vehicle recoveries typically cost in the region of $10k, and half needs to be paid up front. Makes it more real to people.
National parks were organising a bore to be sunk on the rig road when i was there, to measure artesian water levels with respect to cattle farming. Building their case data. I dont know if that was paid by separate grants or who knows what, or the park fees.
Les PK Ranger
4x4 Earth Contributer
Yes, 2 levels I believe, but it has to paid by the vehicle owner at the time, and recouped from Club 4x4 later by way of claim.
So people need to make sure they can a) get recovery service where they are going, and b) be able to afford it up front and until whatever time it takes to make the claim and be reimbursed . . . or c) get themselves out of trouble with or without the help of fellow travelling companions.
Good preps helps prevent things, but stuff can just happen.
