If your going to do good samaritan traffic control around crash scenes, or whenever attending broken-down vehicle, then I firmly suggest you save $5.95-$20 in order to buy a "high-visibility safety vest". (And triangle per Sig). The vest is typically fluroescent Green AND will have 'wide, reflecting stripes' for night use. The collar will typically show a label to Specification marked vis; "EN471".
These safety vests are standard supply now in ALL EU Continential registered cars, vans, 4WD's. Done; to help avoid tragic outcomes as this event highlights. You can buy safety vests from many auto accessory stores here in Australia, the $5.95 figure represents one available from Hot Dollar shops, made to that EU Spec 'EN471'.
They typically use Velcro to secure, and fit a wide variety of sized people.
AGAIN, IF YOU CAN AFFORD $6 - $20, DO KEEP ONE *INSIDE* THE CABIN.
Approaching traffic must always pay attention and not be distracted from the driving task.
French Government re the vest and triangle:-
http://www.securiteroutiere.gouv.fr/articl...?id_article=184
LINK 1, earlier NT News story, See also Link 2 below; Police issue warning to good samaritans.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/06/1...285_ntnews.html
QUOTE
Horror crash kills two
June 14th, 2009
TWO PEOPLE were killed in a horror smash on the Stuart Highway last night.
A woman died when a road train ran over her car, crushing it and dragging it 500m along the highway.
A good Samaritan who stopped to help out at the crash scene by diverting traffic around the crash, died only a few minutes later when he was hit by a passing car.
The first crash happened about 7.10 pm in front of the Coolalinga shopping complex, about 30 km south of Darwin.
The second accident happened about 7.20 pm.
Witnesses told the Sunday Territorian last night that the road train had driven through a set of traffic lights at the Coolalinga intersection when a white car pulled out on to the highway in front of the truck.
"The car got jammed underneath the truck and got dragged along for about 500m," the witness said.
The female driver of the car died at the scene.
When police, fire and ambulance crews arrived at the crash site, the 47-year-old man had also died, while diverting traffic.
"There was a couple that tried to help to slow down the traffic and only a few minutes after the first accident had happened the poor husband got cleaned up by a dark Holden Commodore," a witness said.
He died at the scene, just metres from the first crash.
"My husband and I have been working here for four years and we were waiting for something tragic to happen, it was just a matter of time.
"There are no lights here and cars generally drive too fast on this stretch of the road," the witness said.
"Lots of trucks were going past, obviously they were loading a boat with export cattle," another witness said.
The road train had to be lifted by two cranes to free the jammed car from underneath.
The clearly shaken driver of the road train told the Sunday Territorian he was carting cattle from Ceder Park hauling yards at Noonamah to Darwin.
Police, firies, ambulance and NT emergency service crews spent hours at the scene. The Stuart Highway was closed in both directions for hours.
Police could not comment on the accident by last night.
The deaths bring the NT road toll to 12 compared to 29 for the same period last year.
June 14th, 2009
TWO PEOPLE were killed in a horror smash on the Stuart Highway last night.
A woman died when a road train ran over her car, crushing it and dragging it 500m along the highway.
A good Samaritan who stopped to help out at the crash scene by diverting traffic around the crash, died only a few minutes later when he was hit by a passing car.
The first crash happened about 7.10 pm in front of the Coolalinga shopping complex, about 30 km south of Darwin.
The second accident happened about 7.20 pm.
Witnesses told the Sunday Territorian last night that the road train had driven through a set of traffic lights at the Coolalinga intersection when a white car pulled out on to the highway in front of the truck.
"The car got jammed underneath the truck and got dragged along for about 500m," the witness said.
The female driver of the car died at the scene.
When police, fire and ambulance crews arrived at the crash site, the 47-year-old man had also died, while diverting traffic.
"There was a couple that tried to help to slow down the traffic and only a few minutes after the first accident had happened the poor husband got cleaned up by a dark Holden Commodore," a witness said.
He died at the scene, just metres from the first crash.
"My husband and I have been working here for four years and we were waiting for something tragic to happen, it was just a matter of time.
"There are no lights here and cars generally drive too fast on this stretch of the road," the witness said.
"Lots of trucks were going past, obviously they were loading a boat with export cattle," another witness said.
The road train had to be lifted by two cranes to free the jammed car from underneath.
The clearly shaken driver of the road train told the Sunday Territorian he was carting cattle from Ceder Park hauling yards at Noonamah to Darwin.
Police, firies, ambulance and NT emergency service crews spent hours at the scene. The Stuart Highway was closed in both directions for hours.
Police could not comment on the accident by last night.
The deaths bring the NT road toll to 12 compared to 29 for the same period last year.
LINK 2, NT News 15 June 2009 - additional pic at link.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/06/1...371_ntnews.html
QUOTE
A 20-year-old woman was killed about 7.10pm when her car was run over by a road train travelling inbound on the highway at Coolalinga. Ten minutes later a 47-year-old man was hit and killed by a passing driver as he was directing traffic around the crash site.
His wife was also at the scene helping to slow down traffic, witnesses said.
Police Superintendent Debra Smith (pictured) yesterday warned drivers to slow down if they came across a crash scene.
"When there are accidents on the road, take extra caution to be alert to people and emergency services that are rendering assistance," she said.
"Any person who's rendering assistance at any sort of accident on the road is to place their own safety first," she said. "We've all got hazard lights on our vehicles ... be alert, consider lighting and heavy traffic before putting your own lives at risk."
His wife was also at the scene helping to slow down traffic, witnesses said.
Police Superintendent Debra Smith (pictured) yesterday warned drivers to slow down if they came across a crash scene.
"When there are accidents on the road, take extra caution to be alert to people and emergency services that are rendering assistance," she said.
"Any person who's rendering assistance at any sort of accident on the road is to place their own safety first," she said. "We've all got hazard lights on our vehicles ... be alert, consider lighting and heavy traffic before putting your own lives at risk."
so young
