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-   -   Tips on long distance driving in a caravan (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/road-safety/16707-tips-long-distance-driving-caravan.html)

Hello,

A large group of colleagues from my office are planning a long distance drive (~600kms), in about 10 cars. With such a large number of cars (some big, some small), especially, since we would be passing areas without cell phone coverage, it's more than likely, that the "caravan" would get all scattered. Also, if we drive slow to avoid people getting scattered, then, it would take hell of a long time, to reach our destination.

Are there people on this forum, who have thought of this, and have tips or experiences to share?

Regards,
Agent Smith.

Okay, you need to do this first. Make a Pilot and Tail.
Nobody overtakes the Pilot, and the tail makes sure it overtakes nobody.
That way if it is thought that the caravan is split or something, the pilot can park.
Actually Tail is not really needed if you are okay for stops every 3 hours or so.
Just make the Pilot your fastest car.
In Indian roads, no matter how fast you go, the time difference over 100kms will not be more than 15-20min esp when everybody is pushing it(Avoid that!).

or else you can identify the main cities or junctions on your trail where everybody can assemble each time before starting to the next meeting point...

pilot and tail is the primary thing to go for. but alongwith that it is always better to make an itinerary and keep some known spots to meet once couple of hours. such small meets will give few minutes to relax and other checks.

One of the main things that could go wrong are wrong turns. In areas where roads arent really well mapped, it could make sense for a Pilot car passenger to get off and direct the rest of the caravan (use a flag - bright and previously agreed) to direct the gang in the right direction. And keep the Tail car empty to ensure that the "directors" have a seat at the end!

Superavi

See if you can Manage a Wireless set which can reach & work upto (3-4 miles) and keep them with the pilot and tail car. It can be handy to communicate if there are some breakdown/problem in any car.( Where there is no Sattlite Phone service)
Some identification (poster or flag) on each Car can also help in identifying your Carvan car when you are going thru a city and see many similar looking cars.

Believe me, We had one such in a trip and it did not really help.
Pilot and tail thingy with check pointing works excellent.

Make sure every one drives with agreed speed and with in visibility. Strictly follow the pilot in the towns where there are turns and other traffic to get you confused.

1. pilot & tail (should be the most experienced & fast drivers) actually the tail should be the fastest driver since everytime the pilot overtakes somebody the tail gets left behind.
2. switch on the hazard lights of all the cars (even if ur convoy is overtaking other cars, u can easily spot the next car from ur convoy)
3. a market (either a big ribbon or text on a4 size sheet at the front & rear window panes, for identification purpose over some distance)
4. a photocopy of route map with major waypoints in every car
5. & as pointed by greatdrive a wireless set (costs 3k on ebay & less than 2.5 in the open market in the pilot & tail cars)
6. keep the slow drivers right behind the pilot as far ahead on the convoy as possible. so if the cars are A-B-C-D-E-F-G (in order of the driver speeds with A being fastest) keep the formation as B-G-F-E-D-C-A

Thank you all! These look certainly useful. I shall try these ideas out, and post my experience.

Regards,
Agent Smith.

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I believe there is an invention called, the "BUS". You can try using that.
Specifically charter it, and its nicer for long trips where everybody can
get together and have fun.