The objective of Convoy Procedure is to ensure that ALL vehicles in the group arrive
safely at the desired destination. On any trip a break in Convoy Procedure can quickly lead
to a vehicle, or vehicles, becoming geographically embarrassed (LOST). In remote
outback travel this could be life threatening.
Convoy Procedure is designed to be VISUAL. It neither relies upon, nor requires, the use
of a radio. The Radio IS NOT an alternative to Convoy Procedure.
In its simplest terms each driver in the convoy should be concerned with the vehicle
BEHIND them rather than the vehicle in front. In other words it is your responsibility to
ensure that the vehicle behind you is aware of where you are going. For instance if you are turning at an intersection you should ensure the vehicle behind you understands where you are going before you move off from the intersection.
It is your responsibility to maintain frequent visual contact with the vehicle behind, especially at intersections.
You should wait at intersections or deviations with the appropriate blinker going and you are not to move off until the vehicle behind has acknowledged with a
corresponding blinker show.
Before commencing through a difficult section you should ensure the trailing
vehicle is in position to observe your line through the obstacle.
In hazardous situations it is your responsibility to ensure the previous vehicle has
passed through the hazard before proceeding.
You should not follow too close. Consider the terrain over which you are traveling.
Make sure you leave adequate "panic space" to the vehicle in front of you.
When negotiating steep hills you should leave an appropriate distance to the vehicle
in front. This may mean waiting at the top or bottom of the hill until the vehicle in
front of you has completed their ascent or descent. On particularly long hills (eg
Victorian High Country) there may be more than 1 vehicle on a hill at a time.
When negotiating a water crossing, no two vehicles should be in the water at the
same time.
On trips, you should remain in your designated position in the convoy and not
overtake the vehicle in front except in unavoidable circumstances.
Should you leave the convoy, you must notify the trip leader, and if possible give
details of your intentions.
All gates are to be left as they were found.
If a driver is trying to contact the convoy, he can flash the headlights as a signal for
the convoy to stop.
Vehicles will keep to formed tracks unless it is necessary to deviate due to
obstruction on the main track.
When traveling on public roads be considerate of other road users by leaving
appropriate distance between vehicles to allow for overtaking.
