Am I driving too fast on a dirt road?
Probably, if you are using the speed-limit sign as a target. Loose gravel gives your tyres less grip, dust shortens your view and the road can change from smooth to corrugated, washed out or soft in one bend.
Main Roads WA’s current unsealed-road guidance supports reducing speed for conditions, avoiding sudden braking and allowing for dust and limited visibility.
The speed limit is not the safe speed
On dirt, the safe speed is the one that lets you stop inside the distance you can clearly see. Slow down before bends, crests, cattle grids, floodways and dust clouds. Brake and steer smoothly; a sudden lift, brake application or steering input can unsettle a vehicle that is already sliding on loose gravel.
Leave more room than feels necessary
Dust can hide a stopped vehicle, livestock or an oncoming road train. Increase the following gap, use low-beam headlights and do not overtake until you have a long, genuinely clear view. Slow down further at dawn and dusk when animals are active.
What to do
- Drive to grip and visibility, not the posted maximum.
- Slow before the corner, then use gentle inputs through it.
- Expect the surface to change after rain, grading or heavy traffic.
- Stop somewhere safe if dust makes the road ahead unreadable.
The clever driver is not the one who makes corrugations feel smooth at 100 km/h. It is the one who still has choices when the road stops being smooth.
General driving information only. Obey road signs, closures and local conditions.