Comments on: European driving – the right way

By: Zack

Zack — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:45:54 +0000

Even if some drivers give a provoking sense when driving it is easier to ignore than react……..cause the universe has a way of getting back at them

By: Cam

Cam — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:03:28 +0000

Paul, I believe you are generally correct. There needs to be a balanced outcome. That means having the competence in line with confidence,,, hard to do. Aust is too hard on compliance and Europe (while fun) is too loose.
I would like to see;
130k speed limit,
Better learner system that requires test and competency based,
Graded ‘full’licnese system.
Insurance levels to suit the grades, this also limits the speed and license that driver is allowed.
I developed a programe for vehicle manufactueres and testers that required unbeleiveable driving safety and standards AND competence. I leaerned a great deal. Out of 300 drivers only 10 made the grade where speeds regularly exceeded 130k. Of that 300, 150 would be concidered competeanct to control a car at 130k and I would sign a document saying that each driver would be safe for at least 2 years.
My back ground is that of a corporate driver saftey instructor (not race track training). I am also a petrol head so the balance is hard to maintain but I use the same safe philosophy with my professional driving (rally, precision and film).
You made an observation I made in 2000, 2004 and 2006 and I will again net year, just love driving those roads!

By: Boggy

Boggy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:54:10 +0000

Could not agree more with this article well said

By: Allan

Allan — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:06:00 +0000

its very true that many australians are selfish drivers. I especially hate it when im driving along, I move left to let someone (who has been tailgating) pass, only to see that he doesnt overtake. So there i am boxed in on the left lane behind a slow moving vehicle who is doing 20kmh below the speed limit, and i cant overtake this bugger because the guy on my right is now just alongside me doing 5kmh below the speed limit….and the road ahead of him is freakin clear! It happens all the time, ppl here love to drive side by side to other vehicles.

By: BigBen

BigBen — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:57:54 +0000

Migrating to Australia in the early 80’s and having my first experience on Melbourne’s as a European driver, I commented to my wife that, if I were to have an accident in Australia, it would not surprise me if it was with a Taxi or a Police car.
Two years later, I rang my wife to tell her that I would be late home from work. Reason, I had just had an accident with an unmarked Police car.
With trendsetting road users like the Police behaving the way they do, is it any wonder that the rest of the driving population are absolute morons, drivers that do not have the courtesy of ‘Ritsen’ (alternating cars) when a lane comes to an end either by design, parked cars, turning cars or accidents. Or stays in the right hand lane at speeds below the limit. Or tail gates when one adheres to the speed limit. Or veers left when intending to turn right. Or makes a left hand turn from the middle of the road. Or speeds up when being overtaken.
For the sake of brevity, I shall not continue with the above list as it would fill a number of web pages. Suffice to say, I am of the same opinion as Paul Maric. Concentration should be on the road, not on the speedometer and all drivers should be less selfish.

By: golfschwein

golfschwein — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:27:08 +0000

Cool. Sounds universal then. Flash flash.

By: Funkdancer

Funkdancer — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:33:45 +0000

Speaking as a Norwegian who moved to Australia eight years ago, I’ve got only one thing to say (insert cool, funky American accent here): AMEN BROTHER.

By: No Name

No Name — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:31:32 +0000

Hi Golfie – Flashing of headlights here can mean anything from: -
- Get out my bloody way i’m going faster than you,
- your free to pull out
- I’m here watchout/pay attention/wake up you dozy t1t
- Your headlghts are on full beam
- theres a mobile speed cameras up the road (not commonly used as most people would want you to get done for speeding)

It a simple matter of entrepreting the situation and sensibly deciding what your suppopsed to do. Easy

By: daniel

daniel — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:25:04 +0000

Good article.

Though I think the aussie attitude of people in general is to blame rather than the driving ability of people.

By: golfschwein

golfschwein — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:36:53 +0000

Hi Matt, I found your experiences interesting, as I’m a WA native myself. I hate my fellow drivers on the whole, but what would you think of me, I wonder, if I professed to not having a liking for letting people in myself? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll not hesitate to relinquish my possie to someone who’s simply trying to enter from my left from a side street against terrible odds. But if they’re wanting to turn right instead of left, am I going to signal them through contra to right-of-way laws? No, that’s where I draw the line, because I don’t want to be part of their accident.

And I get grouchy when people sit meekly flashing their headlights at me to encourage me to turn against 2 or more lanes of traffic because, frankly, I’d much rather them hit the gas, clear the decks one after the other and let me through safely and legally once they’re all gone. It would take 30 seconds, if only they all concentrated.

That’s something my fellow WA drivers don’t get the hang of: moving decisively and briskly when given the go signal.

As for the practice of flashing headlights to let someone in contra to right-of-way, is that a curiously West Australian thing? It’s either a sign of lovely manners or not knowing who really has the right of way so, what the heck, I’ll just flash my headlights at you. I think it’s the latter!

Potential confusion abounds! A flash of headlights means quite the opposite in most other parts of the world.

If our fellow WA drivers learnt the art of not slowing down to 65 km/h in tunnels (through sheer terror, I think, as it’s our only one), maintaining at least the speed limit on our freeways (surprisingly difficult, that) and not dabbing the brakes when a bend in the road is coming up or when someone indirectly in front of you indicates to turn right, then letting people in might become less of an issue, as we would hopefully all be moving far more efficiently anyway.

We are the State Of Brake Pedal Dabbers.

Boy, what a rant. Hope I haven’t melted the site…

I drove at peak hour in Melbourne once. Heaven.