What you can do

Living Sustainably

Transport

Drive carefully on and off-road

Good drivers leave less impact. A well set-up rig with the right tyres, power and gear ratios, and a well-balanced load, will generally have less impact on the environment than a vehicle that is ill-equipped or unsuitable for the terrain.

Keep vehicles in good mechanical order to maximise safety and minimise risk of oil leaks and fuel spills
Check that grass and twigs can't easily catch in your muffler mountings, where they could catch alight and start a fire
Keep tyres and undercarriage free from weeds or other environmental contaminants
Keep the number of vehicles in a touring group at a level which maximises quality experience and minimises social impacts on others in the vicinity
Stay on designated roads and vehicle tracks – don't drive on walking tracks or trample fragile bush
Drive in the middle of tracks to minimise track widening and damage to soft edges
Drive at speeds appropriate to the conditions – keep a lookout for wildlife and other visitors, and minimise noise and track damage
Avoid dazzling wildlife with high beam, spotlights or powerful driving lights
Wherever possible, do not drive on vegetation, particularly in grassy and soft areas
Minimise horn and light use, gear-crunching, revving and excessive idling
Ford creeks only at designated crossings and approach at 90 degrees to avoid damaging the bank

Refer to the Off-Road Vehicle Green Guide for more information. Also explore our resource centre for top tips.