WA driver attitudes
 

I know it's been done before, but even after being in Perth for over a year I am still flabbergasted by the attitude of the majority of drivers here. It's absolutely insane.

There seems to be this inbred thinking of '**** you, you will not get infront of me, even if I have to ram you'. Along with a total disregard for other road users with the constant tailgating, changing lanes across the front of other users, no use of mirrors etc etc.

I had yet another example of this today. On my way to work I'm driving up Wanneroo Road, and there's a truck parked half on the verge and half in the road. So I would need to change lanes to get around. I check my mirror and over the shoulder and it's clear, with another car in the next lane way back. I put on the indicator and check again, this cars still in the same place. As soon as I start to move out, checking the mirrors again this dickhead has accelerated right up to try and stop me. I barely squeezed past the parked truck.

I have experienced more close calls in the year I've been here than in the whole 20+ years of driving in the UK.

So what causes it? Is it the training, or some inbred mentality?

It just seems that there's a total lack of spacial awareness, courtesy and good driving skills.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm still a bit flustered after nearly hitting the back of a parked truck!!!

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

I have to agree. We have been here 18 months and find the driving here abysmal. If you try to keep to the speed limits drivers behind you get annoyed. Wanneroo Road has road works and many times whilst abiding the road rules I have had impatient drivers up my ****. I am not prepared to get any points on my licence for anyone who is in a rush.

They can't even stay between the lines, many times I have seen drivers swaying into the cycling lane whilst going up Joondalup Drive. They are either half asleep or ******.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

It is dire.

My theory is that it is cultural - passed down through the years from when there were very few cars in WA and courtesy just wasn't necessary.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

This used to happen to me more, here in Brisbane, when I rode a motorbike but I still find regularly occurring instances of this event even though I drive everywhere now.

The quality of driving here in Brisbane is quite simply appalling. It's not everyone and it may even be a minority rather than the majority but it happens often enough to make me realise that it's definitely a significant problem.

I've had people pull out from junctions (onto the main road that I am traveling on and that I have right of way on) literally no more than 15 feet from the front of my car, when I am traveling at 60kph. It's the kind of incident that I can honestly say that I have never encountered when driving in the UK (perhaps something similar and less severe but never this exact same situation). It happens so often here though and that's an indication of either pervasive mental illness or a simple disregard for other people due to either shite driving tuition or perhaps a cultural attitude?

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

I miss my motorbike and riding so much, but there's absolutely no way I'd get one here in Perth.

Before moving out here I joined up with a Perth bikers forum, as I had intended to buy a bike when here. But in the time I've been a member, which is around 2 years, there have been numerous members killed in accidents and there is an accident reported pretty much every day.

I'm sure a lot of those accidents aren't all other people's faults, but from driving a car and experiencing the bad driving I'd say the majority would be. It's that reason I chose against getting another bike. It's just not worth it.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

Agree with the other posts. Ive been here two years and everytime I drive I am on edge and expecting to have to take evasive action.

My main observations:

No indication

No mirror useage

Absolutely no polite giving way (by them) ever!

When you give way, absolutely no chance of an acknowledgment.

I agree that this must stem from (relatively) few cars in a large area. And also that we UK drivers are probably among the best because we have to be. Back home, if we were not courteous and efficient drivers then nobody would get anywhere.

At risk of censure from the moderator, though the average motorist is truly awful, I become particulary attentive on the road when I happen across aboriginal or asian drivers. Sorry if sounds stereotypical/racist etc but is true im my experience.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

Well, controversial but I would tend to agree that Asian (as in Far Eastern in appearance) drivers also appear on my "radar" rather more than I would want them to...

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

:ohmy: This many posts in and nobodys come along and told us to 'love it or leave'. :lol:

I quite enjoy the driving style over here. If people tailgate, I just slow down or keep indicating left every now and then. One thing that shits me is when a 3 laned road becomes 2 and you have 10 metres to act. If people speed up or wont let me in, I just keep edging in.

Worst driver IMO: P-platers and old people.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

I don't think the majority of drivers here know where the corners of their cars are. The other night we were having dinner outside and watched in amusement as 4 different car owners tried to park their cars in a perfectly adequately sized space. All failed. 5th one managed and the table next to us gave them a handclap as they were actually the NINTH car to try and park there (we'd only just arrived and so missed the previous attempts).

Here in Brisbane pedestrians and cyclists are certainly second-class citizens. Waiting for the green man signal at any crossing is time consuming/a joke. Certainly lets you know what the priorities are for the council - and it's not for pedestrians.

Wish petrol would go up in price again and take some of the lunatics off the road.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

When i first drove here, i emailed my fried back home to say i have discovered that all WA men are gay. The reason is that it seems they all want to get up my backside

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

But what about their driving? Maybe you should mingle more at parties?

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

Theres nothing wrong with the driving here in WA.

Then again I was a white van man in the UK for 10 years so havent noticed any difference ;)

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

Remember p platers have just passed so give them some credit , agree with the oldies though.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

Cars driven by P-Platers are some of the fastest moving vehicles on the road, in my experience.

Re: WA driver attitudes
 

Spot on.

Just last night some idiot P-plater in a Skyline was swerving across both lanes down Wanneroo Rd ducking in and out of the traffic.

Insanity.