Post by Adrian Clifford on Jun 27, 2006 14:39:25 GMT
Those of you who will be travelling together into Europe, not necessarily just Kempenrit may find the following of use.
It soon becomes apparent if you are travelling together the difficulty of keeping together, it does apply to the UK of course, but there is usually an air of confidence in your own country that you know what you are doing and where you are going, even if Sally Sat-Nav is directing.
On unknown roads it is slightly different so I have put together, using previous raids a few ideas that may help to keep groups together.
There are Treffen Rules, where the last car in the convoy has his headlights on, this makes it easier for the ones ahead to see "tail end Charlie" however in Scandinavia all cars have their headlights on all the time and the trend is now creeping across mainland Europe with more and more cars being encouraged to do so, even by the placing of posters by the side of the road.
The lead car should know where the convoy is going, either by knowledge or map reading, when making a passing move or getting back into the driving lane you should not only think can I do this safely you have to think for the cars behind, so don't shrink into a gap for one you must find a suitable space for the cars behind, not easy sometimes I will admit, but you must think of the others or they will become stranded or fragmented. When approaching a junction, services or an exit slow right down early, indicate and make sure everybody in the group knows this is where you are going.
Drivers on their own will find it difficult to overtake because they cannot see past the car or lorry in front, so give them assistance if you are behind by pulling out to indicate to them it is clear, but please make sure it is because anything coming the other way will find your friend before it finds you.
All cars in the group look out for the one behind and what is happening ahead, to run together and stay together is fun but takes some doing.
To keep the group together the most influential car is the one at the back, he needs to read the road ahead and if the lead car needs or indicates to overtake, the last car, if it is safe to do so, indicates and pulls out thereby closing the back door so the whole group can all make their move together.
It is almost impossible to keep large groups together, not so bad on motorways of course, so it does help to split larger groups in to smaller groups.
Often the lead car needs to slow up to re-group, especially on minor roads and after going through traffic lights or round roundabouts so keep an eye on the cars behind to make sure you are all there, some people will be concerned about being left behind in an area or country they do not know, so always think of the others in the group.
Two way radio's are useful, in a limited 2km range, but they could be considered a hazard while driving as mobile telephones, so be careful if you are the driver.
Don't forget, on another thread in the Europe section (driving abroad) are things you need to remember when travelling abroad, some are essential, some are recommendations but please read it through.
Have fun and safe driving.
It soon becomes apparent if you are travelling together the difficulty of keeping together, it does apply to the UK of course, but there is usually an air of confidence in your own country that you know what you are doing and where you are going, even if Sally Sat-Nav is directing.
On unknown roads it is slightly different so I have put together, using previous raids a few ideas that may help to keep groups together.
There are Treffen Rules, where the last car in the convoy has his headlights on, this makes it easier for the ones ahead to see "tail end Charlie" however in Scandinavia all cars have their headlights on all the time and the trend is now creeping across mainland Europe with more and more cars being encouraged to do so, even by the placing of posters by the side of the road.
The lead car should know where the convoy is going, either by knowledge or map reading, when making a passing move or getting back into the driving lane you should not only think can I do this safely you have to think for the cars behind, so don't shrink into a gap for one you must find a suitable space for the cars behind, not easy sometimes I will admit, but you must think of the others or they will become stranded or fragmented. When approaching a junction, services or an exit slow right down early, indicate and make sure everybody in the group knows this is where you are going.
Drivers on their own will find it difficult to overtake because they cannot see past the car or lorry in front, so give them assistance if you are behind by pulling out to indicate to them it is clear, but please make sure it is because anything coming the other way will find your friend before it finds you.
All cars in the group look out for the one behind and what is happening ahead, to run together and stay together is fun but takes some doing.
To keep the group together the most influential car is the one at the back, he needs to read the road ahead and if the lead car needs or indicates to overtake, the last car, if it is safe to do so, indicates and pulls out thereby closing the back door so the whole group can all make their move together.
It is almost impossible to keep large groups together, not so bad on motorways of course, so it does help to split larger groups in to smaller groups.
Often the lead car needs to slow up to re-group, especially on minor roads and after going through traffic lights or round roundabouts so keep an eye on the cars behind to make sure you are all there, some people will be concerned about being left behind in an area or country they do not know, so always think of the others in the group.
Two way radio's are useful, in a limited 2km range, but they could be considered a hazard while driving as mobile telephones, so be careful if you are the driver.
Don't forget, on another thread in the Europe section (driving abroad) are things you need to remember when travelling abroad, some are essential, some are recommendations but please read it through.
Have fun and safe driving.