I was stuck behind a very slow caravan on a two-ways road to Cooma. The caravan was moving ridiculously in about 70-80ks per hour on the road of 100ks/ph, and there was already a long queue after it and before my car.

I can see almost everyone behind that caravan intended to make an overtaking action, but because the traffic from the opposite side kind of was non-stopping, it needs guts (probably more a good judgement as well as the good time) to make sure any move would be perfectly safe.

So for about 30 minutes, there was no change of order on this lane at all. People got very impatient now, but what can you do? Rush out of the lane, press accelerator quickly to make it a speed of 130ks/ph and when passing by the caravan, give that horrible hand gesture?

I knew I was a bit late, not terribly, but it certainly would take much longer time for me to reach my destination. Really, because of my current life status, I really had no intention to make an overtaking, as I think I can wait and just strolling on the road with 70ks/ph was surely not that bad as bumping to a car from the opposite side. I eventually will get there and it would be just a matter of arriving there 15 minutes earlier or later.

But it got me thinking as this is actually a very interesting scene if you think about it. Let me give you a picture of what’s happening by numbering all the cars involved in this action. Say there are 6 cars, caravan is No.1, then there is No2, No.3….and I am the No.6. Between every two cars, there is only very little distance.

Now here is a theory. Whose responsibility to make the first overtaking action? It certainly won’t be No.4 to No.6, as they have more vehicles to go pass and much longer distance to make an overtaking to get to the top position, and it means the risk would be much greater than it would be for No. 2.

So the first overtaking action would be ideal if it’s taken by car No.2, or maybe No.3 depending on the situation. However, if No.2 or No.3 doesn’t comfortable to do so, it means that nothing is going to change.

So, now you know what happened over the time while I was there on that road. None of the Car No.2 and Car No.3 made a movement; neither did rest of the cars. But you can’t really complain, not to that stupid caravan, as it’s his (her) decision to make if s(he) wants to travel over the speed limit or in a position of making a traffic delay, and neither to any of car No.2 or No.3, as maybe there was never a good timing or safe gap for them to make a move, or they simply don’t want to make a move. Of course you have no right to blame car No.4 to No.6, as we are the most innocent victims.

The only thing we can do is “cursing” that caravan or whoever we want to curse. But seriously, shouldn’t it be the time for Road Authority to think about adding more overtaking lanes on this road for every 5-10 kilometres?