bcworld

http://blogs.news.com.au/news/splat/...laces_to_live/

Interestingly quite a few comments in here specifically about Brisbane drivers which certainly ring true!

Amazulu

Laid back Aussies? There are some but it is mainly an urban myth. They bitch, moan, complain and worry with the best of them and they cannot drive. The national stereotypes that people like to refer to are mostly bullshit.

Hutch

Most of that thread after the article is typical inter-city bollocks. The same way people from Manchester slag off Liverpool, or people from Birmingham slag off Bristol. It has always been thus. When Queen Victoria (Londoner that she was), was on the train from Paddington to Bristol, she order the curtains drawn as the train went through Bath because the place offended her so.

The whole thing falls under the 'a city is a city is a city' heading. I've lived in London, New York, Paris and Bath and it was the same everywhere - self-important people in suits rushing from A to B because that's what you do when you live in a city. No different here in my experience, though at least in this country you can chill out at lunchtime by the harbour or the river, instead of in a pie and mash shop.

tictac

Most of the comments re (the traffic in) Brisbane are true

Traffic (getting in and out of the CBD during rush hour) is a nightmare

I tend to think though that the poor standard of driving in Brisbane is down to ignorance as opposed to the aggression or selfishness which presents itself in the UK.

Education, a greater police presence on the roads and a massive overhaul of the roads system is sorely needed

I_Will_Freckle

I find Aussie cities way, way more laid back.

As for the driving - it's cack, though found Brisbane drivers so much better than Perth drivers.

BadgeIsBack

It's relative.

Compared to cities like London and Paris they are. I found Sydney CBD quite quiet. Zulu, as I've said before, I reckon every myth has a counter-myth but there is still truth in them.

Just when you think you've debunked a myth you find it alive and kicking elsewhere. What I love about Australia.

Maybe if you've been here too long you don't notice and a visit overseas will soon put you right.

earlneath

I have found the driving standards to differ from state to state, and wonder whether it is down to different driving tests or a different mentality in the different states.

We live in Melbourne and keep a small car here. I have driven a large hire car in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. I found the drivers in Sydney and Adelaide to be laid back and not so pushy - but it was at weekends and holiday times, and I was in a large hire car so maybe they were easier going on me. There may be some sort of pecking order operating wherein drivers are slightly more considerate towards people driving big or expensive cars.

I find the drivers in Brisbane and Melbourne selfish, mean-spirited, aggressive and dangerous. The level of people's driving ability also seems to be lower than in the UK. Because petrol is cheap there is alot of step-on-it then brake-like-mad behaviour in urban driving between sets of traffic lights. They will use their horn to express indignation at the slightest opportunity. I would hate to be a cyclist or motorcyclist on the roads in these two cities. I hear colleagues etc make resentful comments about cyclists in particular, there is a real car culture here and they don't like being slowed down by changing traffic lights, people turning, cycles etc.
On freeways certainly there is less keeping to the left than in the UK. The outside lane is not the fast lane (well it isnt in the UK either officially). Overtaking on the left is commonplace. People seem not to check their rear view mirrors very often.

In Melbourne in particular there is a fair amount of jostling on suburban main roads with two lanes in each direction but where cars are parked on the inside lane. Generally on the equivalent road in the UK cars would not be parked in the left lane. Some drivers will queue in the outside lane as parked cars are ahead in the left lane, but other drivers will deliberately go into the left lane and accelerate hard to get ahead before pulling into the outside lane just before they smack into the parked car.

I have no idea whether driving practices are a fair reflection of people's characters, but it is curious. I'd love to know how the aus accident stats compare to Europe.

Vash the Stampede

Since when was any CBD "laid back"?

It's a self-defeating question. A bit like saying "How many prisoners are contented with their lot in life?"

More significantly, it's not the same as asking "Are Aussies laid back?", which is an entirely different issue.

MartinLuther

Loved this quote from the link

Vash the Stampede

Just don't try all three at once; you'll do yourself a mischief.