The stupidity of drivers
Aug 1st 2010, 4:05 am
#77
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Re: The stupidity of drivers
No country has a monopoly on poor driving attitudes, but Australia has a head start.
It's a truism that driving safety is mainly in the attitude of those on the roads, and unfortunately the Australian attitude seems to be that providing you can keep roughly within the confines of your side of the road you are a competent driver. Subtleties such as keeping space in front, dipping headlights, thinking ahead and road positioning when turning right are not even under consideration.
By contrast, American driving I found, by and large, infinitely more competent.
Aug 1st 2010, 6:44 pm
#81
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Hertfordshire (for now)
Posts: 52
Re: The stupidity of drivers
I think so much of it just comes down to the tuition. Nearly all drivers were taught by their parents in this country it seems. There is just no discipline whatsoever in Australian (especially QLD) drivers. They are lazy (no indicators before they manoeuvre), impatient (deliberately running red lights, driving down hard shoulders in traffic, deliberately driving down one way streets because it is "quicker"), belligerent (turning right to cross single continuous white lines on road and subsequently holding up traffic behind them), ignorant (sitting in outside lanes when not overtaking anyone or there is no one to be seen ahead or driving with no lights on in the dark).
I've said it once and I'll say it again, you would think you were in some third world country where driver's licenses were handed out in exchange for a police bribe.
I've said it once and I'll say it again, you would think you were in some third world country where driver's licenses were handed out in exchange for a police bribe.
Aug 1st 2010, 8:08 pm
#82
Nicest member ( I think)
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Moggill, Brisbane
Posts: 1,030
Re: The stupidity of drivers
I think so much of it just comes down to the tuition. Nearly all drivers were taught by their parents in this country it seems. There is just no discipline whatsoever in Australian (especially QLD) drivers. They are lazy (no indicators before they manoeuvre), impatient (deliberately running red lights, driving down hard shoulders in traffic, deliberately driving down one way streets because it is "quicker"), belligerent (turning right to cross single continuous white lines on road and subsequently holding up traffic behind them), ignorant (sitting in outside lanes when not overtaking anyone or there is no one to be seen ahead or driving with no lights on in the dark).
I've said it once and I'll say it again, you would think you were in some third world country where driver's licenses were handed out in exchange for a police bribe.
I've said it once and I'll say it again, you would think you were in some third world country where driver's licenses were handed out in exchange for a police bribe.
Aug 1st 2010, 9:34 pm
#83
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: The stupidity of drivers
Austria
Finland
Isle of Man (after a certain date)
Netherlands
Sweden
Belgium
France
Italy
Norway
Switzerland
Canada
Germany
Japan
Portugal
UK
Croatia
Greece
Luxembourg
Singapore
USA
Denmark
Ireland
Malta (after a certain date)
Spain
Guernsey
Jersey
I think you'll find that you can't just buy a licence in any of those jurisdictions.
On the other hand, from experience, I can say the driving in my part of Victoria is better than that found in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Spain.
Aug 1st 2010, 10:50 pm
#84
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: The stupidity of drivers
The problem is that ALL visitors can drive on their own licence for as long as they are here.
When we look at those numbers:
4,700,000 short term visitors per year
315,000 long term visitors (457 visas etc) per year
There could be a lot of drivers who may not know how to drive the local way.
When we look at those numbers:
4,700,000 short term visitors per year
315,000 long term visitors (457 visas etc) per year
There could be a lot of drivers who may not know how to drive the local way.
Aug 1st 2010, 10:58 pm
#85
ah-beng
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: ^.^
Posts: 3,113
Re: The stupidity of drivers
The problem is that ALL visitors can drive on their own licence for as long as they are here.
When we look at those numbers:
4,700,000 short term visitors per year
315,000 long term visitors (457 visas etc) per year
There could be a lot of drivers who may not know how to drive the local way.
When we look at those numbers:
4,700,000 short term visitors per year
315,000 long term visitors (457 visas etc) per year
There could be a lot of drivers who may not know how to drive the local way.
And how many of the expats on here doing the complaining actually read and learned the australian highway code or had aussie driving lessons ?
I dunno where you guys all live but I think its pretty cool , a lot less aggro driving around, you can actually use those inside 3rd lanes at traffic lights or traffic jams without a hairy ass HGV driver deciding he knows better than the road designers and blocking it, you can merge without hassle. People queue quite nicely, dont usually block intersections. Roundabouts seem to work as designed.
Plenty of people speed, and plenty of people get caught for it. Ive been breathalised more here in 5 yrs than in 15yrs driving in UK ( through roadside bus tests not because I drive swervy )
(edit : Perhaps Im the driver you are all complaining about )
Last edited by spalen; Aug 1st 2010 at 11:00 pm.
Aug 2nd 2010, 12:28 am
#86
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: The stupidity of drivers
indeed.
And how many of the expats on here doing the complaining actually read and learned the australian highway code or had aussie driving lessons ?
I dunno where you guys all live but I think its pretty cool , a lot less aggro driving around, you can actually use those inside 3rd lanes at traffic lights or traffic jams without a hairy ass HGV driver deciding he knows better than the road designers and blocking it, you can merge without hassle. People queue quite nicely, dont usually block intersections. Roundabouts seem to work as designed.
Plenty of people speed, and plenty of people get caught for it. Ive been breathalised more here in 5 yrs than in 15yrs driving in UK ( through roadside bus tests not because I drive swervy )
(edit : Perhaps Im the driver you are all complaining about )
And how many of the expats on here doing the complaining actually read and learned the australian highway code or had aussie driving lessons ?
I dunno where you guys all live but I think its pretty cool , a lot less aggro driving around, you can actually use those inside 3rd lanes at traffic lights or traffic jams without a hairy ass HGV driver deciding he knows better than the road designers and blocking it, you can merge without hassle. People queue quite nicely, dont usually block intersections. Roundabouts seem to work as designed.
Plenty of people speed, and plenty of people get caught for it. Ive been breathalised more here in 5 yrs than in 15yrs driving in UK ( through roadside bus tests not because I drive swervy )
(edit : Perhaps Im the driver you are all complaining about )
In part, I think some people have a problem adapting to the driving style (both written and unwritten rules) therefore (to them) it's the locals who are wrong instead of them.
Aug 2nd 2010, 1:11 am
#87
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Re: The stupidity of drivers
Basically, no ... it's worse here ... it really is.
I've driven all around the UK in all kinds of conditions for business and pleasure and the standards around Brisbane are shocking.
It is, and will continue to be, my main issue with living here.
I've driven all around the UK in all kinds of conditions for business and pleasure and the standards around Brisbane are shocking.
It is, and will continue to be, my main issue with living here.
Aug 2nd 2010, 7:31 am
#89
I'm Old Gregg!
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: A Former Bogan Colony in QLD
Posts: 8,460
Re: The stupidity of drivers
I know you can do that on the Cook Islands
Aug 2nd 2010, 7:35 am
#90
I'm Old Gregg!
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: A Former Bogan Colony in QLD
Posts: 8,460
Re: The stupidity of drivers
Have you actually driven for a considerable amount of time in Australia before?
Even the most "I LOVE AUSTRALIA IT IS THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH" basher will tell you they are some of the worst drivers in the world.
In fact it is probably the most concensus you will get on comparitive debates brought up on this forum.
I'm not saying the Brits are angels on the roads but they are much more disciplined than Aussies.
Even the most "I LOVE AUSTRALIA IT IS THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH" basher will tell you they are some of the worst drivers in the world.
In fact it is probably the most concensus you will get on comparitive debates brought up on this forum.
I'm not saying the Brits are angels on the roads but they are much more disciplined than Aussies.
Last edited by Broad Shoulders; Aug 2nd 2010 at 7:38 am.