Australian Drivers

[PHATR32]

driving 40 mins each way to work every day you see a lot of crazy shit. Some times it makes you wanna wish you could pull over and beat the god dammed shit out some people.

the other i was in town a saw some dumb ass P plater lock it in front a a truck then change 4 lanes in one go. lucky for him the truck locked it up an stopped just in time.

this coutrys laws are total bullshit, if the truck hit him, it would have been the truckies fault.

steve

[SKY031]

See this is where i can already see the bad drivers in this forum.

avoiding police interception? In victoria, you dont have to stop for the police. its not illegal to not stop for them.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

[saff_cossie]

Good thread

Having grown up in the UK and passed my driving test there, I was amazed at some drivers here.

E.g. A driver is turning right in a right slip lane, yet will not indicate when entering the slip lane but will put his/her indicator on in the slip lane to signal they are turning right. Why? They are in a lane with a painted white arrow on the road saying you can only turn right. I dont need to know. However I do need to know if you are turning off the road in front of me.

Motorways in the UK before every junction there are countdown markers, 3 lines, 2 lines, 1 line which represent the 100's of metres before the junction. Your indicator is supposed to go on at the 300 metre marker.

Already read the ones who cant read the "keep left unless overtaking"

The following is the worst for me and still scares me at times:

Two lines or more of traffic are stopped at lights. A driver will drive up and at the last minute change lanes either with or without indicating into the other lane. Now when I was learning to drive, I was always taught to judge your braking distance when approaching a stop. This person has now at times halved my braking distance! What makes it even worse is drivers do it front of trucks. Imagine trying to stop a truck in that distance.

It seems to stem from the learning though as I have watched several driving instructors directing learners into other lanes at the junctions. IMO that is not good practice and does not encourage respect for braking distance.

When it rains - increase the gap, braking again is affected!

Test is way too easy here and needs to teach proper driving.

SKY031 - agree with most of your stuff, good points.

Oh and the Asian comment someone made (sorry forgot who). I worked opposite an apartment block in the city for a year and it was full of Asians. None of these cars ever sped, clear indicating given, cars always kept in immaculate condition. Most were 20-30 year old male and females. If there is one race here that can be generalised as a good driver, from what I have seen, it is Asians.

Also followed a number of them on my way home at different times and could rarely spot anything dangerous about thier driving. B)

[koleka]

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

bad drivers and knowing what your doing is wrong are 2 different things, ignorence is alot worse then risk taking.

i do take that back about asian drivers, just a little generalising joke.

Edited February 21, 2006 by koleka

[SKY031]

ignorence is alot worse then risk taking.

You say that ignorance is worse than risk taking, where does that leave you?

You seem to be under the impression that you don't need to pull over if signalled to do so by Police.

..... doesn't that classify as ignorance?

[koleka]

yes it does go under ignorence, and i was miss informed.

and i do believe that i am an ignorent driver but not totally ignorant.

i would like to undergoe a defensive driving course, as soon as i get my preffered car, and hopefull learn how to be a better driver.

Edited February 21, 2006 by koleka

[SKY031]

Your time would be much better spent by familiarising yourself with basic traffic law first.

[blind_elk]

i would like to undergoe a defensive driving course, as soon as i get my preffered car, and hopefull learn how to be a better driver.

Why do you have to wait for your "preferred" car. You have a car now - go do the course now and learn how to drive the car you have now. If you need to when you get your next car, do another course. Or simply remember and apply what you learned this time.

It is never too early to be a better driver.

[predator]

...or too late

I think one of the problems we have in Australia is that a lot of people 30+ think that after then they are a 'perfect' driver, when in fact it can be rather blind to their flaws.. or the attitude "I've been driving for 30 years, I know how to drive" -- which can actually lead to some arrogance, and ignorance of other drivers around them.

I think getting your licence at age 18, and never requiring any further updates or skill checks is a further recipe for disaster, even when you're past the initital 18-25 period. If you look at the stats, from around age 25-40 there is probably as many fatalities as this younger group. Sure its a larger period, but its still not insignificant. Its not just younger drivers that die on the roads, despite the heavy media bias - it is all ages.

(not directed at you elk )

[Tangles]

Rules should be changed to this:

"You may not receive a car or truck or any other road-going vehicle license until after you have survived for a period of 24-months whilst riding a motorcycle"

THAT would sort out a hell of a lot of problems. I say that MOST bike riders end up becoming better CAR drivers, in the long run. We learn to read the conditions of the road/weather/area well, learn to 'look ahead' and have a greater skills base than a car driver.

Thats my opinion only. (Ive been riding for 8yrs and driving for 11yrs - dropped the bike on balckice at 5kmph, but never had any other vehicular crash). And yes I understand there would be heaps of road-carnage in the short term, and lots of deaths, but in the long term we'd all be better drivers (if we survived).

Survivial of the fittest I say!@!!

rofl

[SKY031]

Interesting idea bwilkeson..

I've known bike riders who weren't even aware of "blind spots" which are suffered by people in cars.

I take it that bikes don't have the same blind spot issue?

These people were totally oblivious to the fact that people in cars couldn't see them when they were sitting in certain places.

I also agree with pred about the complacency of people who have been driving for a long time, and people who think they are "good drivers".

Driving is a constant learning experience.

Even after 15+ years of driving, I know that I still learn stuff every time I go out on the road.

Watching idiots do stupid things is a great education.

It makes you aware of how dangerous and unpredictable human behaviour can be, and every time I see someone doing something stupid, it is a learning experience.

It gives you something to think about, and helps you prepare a mindset for how to react in certain situations.. where hesitation, or having to stop and think about what you should, do could cause injury (or worse).

It bugs me up the wall when people say "i learned how to drive in 3 weeks" .... well.. sorry, but if you think you can learn everything you need to know about driving a car in 3 weeks, you'd better get yourself some good insurance.

Personally, I'd like to see the introduction of testing when people go from P's to a full licence.

You have to sit a test to get your L's

You have to sit a test to get your P's

All you have to do to get a full licence is go 3 years without dying.

It's ridiculous to assume that someone is safe to drive "unlabelled" just because they have gone 3 years without managing to kill themself.

[Tangles]

Interesting idea bwilkeson..

I take it that bikes don't have the same blind spot issue?

Nice one Sky031- good writeup. Bikes, blindspot? hahahaha funny, what blindspot!!??

A car driver, in effect, is sitting inside a "TV" box with *some* viewing panels to the left and right, but essentially staring straight ahead.

A bike rider has nothing that can effect their view other than the visor area of the helmet - my head can swivel 270degrees, so therefore my riding viewing area is over 270degrees. I just cant see DIRECTLY behind me unless I use my mirrors, but hey, once Ive overtaken you in the Adelaide Hills you'll quickly be far behind me, far enough not to worry about not seeing you!!

I really do believe that riding motorcycles on the road does make you a better car driver, you are just SO MUCH more aware. Well, at the least I know that I am. And thats good enough for me.

[Informer]

The other day I saw 3 skylines. 2 R32s weaving in and around traffic on Springvale road, and an R33 GTR turning right into waverly road(?).

Not sure if they were a group, but driving together can sometimes raise the adrenaline a little bit.

Do take it easy and try not to give other Skyline owners a bad rep.

Informer (who has been getting strange feedbacks for driving his R around).

[koleka]

Rules should be changed to this:

"You may not receive a car or truck or any other road-going vehicle license until after you have survived for a period of 24-months whilst riding a motorcycle"

THAT would sort out a hell of a lot of problems. I say that MOST bike riders end up becoming better CAR drivers, in the long run. We learn to read the conditions of the road/weather/area well, learn to 'look ahead' and have a greater skills base than a car driver.

Thats my opinion only. (Ive been riding for 8yrs and driving for 11yrs - dropped the bike on balckice at 5kmph, but never had any other vehicular crash). And yes I understand there would be heaps of road-carnage in the short term, and lots of deaths, but in the long term we'd all be better drivers (if we survived).

Survivial of the fittest I say!@!!

rofl

ive heard from many bike riders that they have become better car drivers because of there bikr riding experience, probably the difference between life or death.

[saff_cossie]

Nice one Sky031- good writeup. Bikes, blindspot? hahahaha funny, what blindspot!!??

A car driver, in effect, is sitting inside a "TV" box with *some* viewing panels to the left and right, but essentially staring straight ahead.

A bike rider has nothing that can effect their view other than the visor area of the helmet - my head can swivel 270degrees, so therefore my riding viewing area is over 270degrees. I just cant see DIRECTLY behind me unless I use my mirrors, but hey, once Ive overtaken you in the Adelaide Hills you'll quickly be far behind me, far enough not to worry about not seeing you!!

I really do believe that riding motorcycles on the road does make you a better car driver, you are just SO MUCH more aware. Well, at the least I know that I am. And thats good enough for me.

I like your thinking. At the time of getting my licence when I was 17 I was racing XC Mountain bikes. As a result I was not driving much but cycling a few hundred miles a week on the road. This gave me a massive advantage I believe when learning to drive but also something I have been able to continue on with now. As a cyclist I will wait in a queue as if someone has over taken me in a car safely, they deserve the respect for me to sit behind them. It is also a hazard overtaking cycles so why increase my risk further?

Cycling/Motorcycling certainly does teach you a lot respect for the road conditions when you are that close to nature and the elements plus other vehicles. I learnt how to make myself seen to others, not sitting in blind spots. Gaps to leave when pulling out etc.

However the majority of the motorcyclists I see on the road (and there does seem to have been an increase in the past couple of years) seem to ride like they are invincible.

One big difference I should have mentioned from the UK. You are only allowed to pass on the right of a vehicle. Unless you in bumper to bumper crawling traffic where you could quite easily move a bit quicker than the neighbouring lane. That is a big part of the danger I see is undertaking as well as overtaking especially when looking for bikes.

[Topaz]

More...

I usually get the people on the freeway that leave a decent gap between them and the car in front and them accelerate to hold their posistion Some people are so uncurtious its just not funny.

I saw a taxi driver try to pull in front of a 4WD once, there was just enough gap for him but the 4WD driver was right on the arse of the car in front. The taxi driver opened his door, I think to get out and have a word to the 4WD owner. Then the car in front of the 4WD pulled out of the lane and the taxi got in front anyway......

Curtosy is a big problem in peak traffic

[Tangles]

However the majority of the motorcyclists I see on the road (and there does seem to have been an increase in the past couple of years) seem to ride like they are invincible.

I dont - I make sure I am in a position so that I can be seen! read the quote below:

ive heard from many bike riders that they have become better car drivers because of there bikr riding experience, probably the difference between life or death.

FOR SURE!!!

In my case I absolutely back that up.

Edited February 22, 2006 by bwilkeson

[Mulkers]

There have been at least 12 occasions in the last 48 hours where i have undertaken people (this is illegalish - 1000 pound fine in the uk, but in aus, has little consequence), as well as 5 other seperate occasions where somone has pulled out in front of me, and then pulled half off of the road to let me pass. Why the F*!!! did they pull out in the first place.

None of the above are l platers, p platers, or young drivers, but so called experienced, mature drivers.

Poor liscensing,

a lack of re-education of drivers who have had their liscene for years,

sub quality roads (in my council especially, some others aren't as bad),

poor roadworthy requirements (a blocked windscreen washer is illegal, but cars with poor brakes, often driven by police,)

lazy line painting by council workers, and various other problems that could easily be solved without a multi million dollar 'going 1 kmh over the speed limit will kill you and all your loved ones' campaign, but with a little common sense and logic. (often not associated with police/politicians)

end rant

[Frink]

i cant speak for Australia as a whole, but can speak for canberran's. people in canberra are far too relaxed behind the wheel. cause most of our roads are quite wide and open and the fact that canberra has only a population of about 300,000, most people think they can do what they like. more often than not the left hand lane travels quicker than the right hand lane cause someone is sitting at the front of the que doing 60-70 kph in an 80 kph zone. this is quite frustrating....

also, no-one down here knows how to merge. everyone seems to just brake and wait for the other car to merge ahead of them, but not realising that the other car is doing the same!!!

[GTR-N1]

Well you forgot to add female drivers . . .

*run*

This was put to the test tonight on 'the usual ACA beat-up'

Girls were compared to guys under pressure of being videoed to 'reverse park'

Ian Luff stated that girls get flustered too easily and then lose perception of where their front wheels are.

Ian & a psychologist concurred that a reverse park should only take 15-20 seconds in a moderately tight spot.

The best one filmed????

1) 'Twas a girl

2) She took just 8 seconds in...

3) a red R30 Skyline