Engage brain before putting into 4WD

Sometimes being in possession of a valid drivers license isn't enough to keep you (and your car) safe.

Here are some common mistakes caused from a lack of common sense.

Robert Dawes is the agency manager for Avis Yulara. Out of 5000 yearly rentals, some 2700 are 4WDs, most of them hired by visitors wanting to explore Uluru before traversing the 400km to Alice Springs.

The great majority of vehicles and drivers come back in good shape. The slender minority probably commit one of the following:

The old fuel foul-up
Putting petrol in a diesel vehicle. And diesel in a petrol. Never pretty, and usually entails draining all the fuel and replacing the filters.

Underestimating the distance
Travelling time is at a premium and travellers want to see everything. But they don't realise that an inch on the Territory map can be a six-hour drive. I remember a European who had 10 days to drive from Darwin to Melbourne. Which was fine - except he went via Perth...

Night-mares
When you try to fit in too much you end up driving at night, which is when the roos, camels and cows are on the move. The rule with smaller animals is you don't swerve to avoid them. But we've had the call that starts, "Well, the vehicle's in a ditch but the wallaby's OK..." Advice on night driving? Don't.

Water, water, nowhere
A flat battery in Melbourne might mean a 40 minute wait for the NRMA. Out here, it can be four hours' wait. And vehicles have a habit of never breaking down under a shady tree. We're serious when we say 'take plenty of water'.

Leaving an impression
When it comes to photographing the rock, some people think a couple of extra feet above the car seats will somehow improve their photographs. Actually, clambering onto a 4WD makes no difference at all, except to the panelling. In 2005, dents got so bad I had a stamp made up. Contracts are now stamped to say there is absolutely no sitting or standing on the vehicle.

Fearing the worst
Some international visitors hear horror stories from their travel agents about breaking down and being stranded for weeks. I remember a Swedish guy who went to terrible expense, turning up with an EPIRB, a satphone, a GPS and even jerry cans. He said he was frightened of breaking down. I said, 'Mate there are only two roads around Uluru. You don't need a GPS - just look for the bitumen and stick to it.