Perth Drivers

[silentC]

After spending 15 years in Western Australia, Laurie Cranston thought that sandgropers were the worst drivers in the country, but a recent experience on Sydney's roads almost changed his mind. He found himself behind a very erratic driver while driving to North Ryde. Then he noticed the car's personalised number plates - PERTH. "Some people really shouldn't advertise," says Laurie.

I offer no comment.

[vsquizz]

Its true, they get behind the wheel over here, have a brain cell reduction, personality change and turn into utter peniscraniums. Arrogant with no respect is the best way to describe a large majority on Perth roads. Too lazy to even put on an indicator. Just MHO having lived in all states but Tassie.

Cheers

[rodm]

Funny thing - we say the same about drivers with eastern states plates. I suppose with the lack of policing local rules apply and one gets used to the driving patterns in each state. Call it education by the level of complaint.
We have a rising problem of road rage that is a bit of concern.

[vsquizz]

Funny thing - we say the same about drivers with eastern states plates.
Thats true, always got to watch for roundabouts and Mexicans:D

[Driver]

I've driven in all the mainland states and in quite a few places overseas. Perth drivers are amongst the most selfish I've ever come across. They don't like making way for other vehicles; they have no notion of what constitutes a safe braking distance; speed limits are to be ignored as unnecessary - especially in suburban streets where little kids might unexpectedly run out(!) The worst exponents seem to be young girls in their late teens and early 20s.

Rodm is right about the increasing tendency towards road rage, too.

[silentC]

They don't like making way for other vehicles; they have no notion of what constitutes a safe braking distance; speed limits are to be ignored as unnecessary - especially in suburban streets where little kids might unexpectedly run out(!) The worst exponents seem to be young girls in their late teens and early 20s.
They sound just like Sydney drivers, Col...

[vsquizz]

They sound just like Sydney drivers, Col...
The difference is everybody in Sydney, knows it, does it, expects it and gets on with it, like one for one at on ramps. Doesn't mean to say its safe just Sydneyites can do it with some respect and commonsense.

Cheers

[Driver]

I took the family across to live in Sydney for most of 2000. My son and daughter - who, having been brought up in Perth, had never driven anywhere else - were at first very apprehensive about the volume and the speed of the traffic in Sydney but they quickly came to realise that people actually do make way for each other - as Squizzy says - one for one at on ramps and so on.

The average Perth motorist would prefer to kill you before giving way. A couple of months ago I had the temerity to squeeze onto the freeway ahead of another bloke (ie, I was merging from the on ramp and he was already in the LH freeway lane - there was plenty of room). He found a miniscule gap in the RH lane, accelerated into it, passed me then violently swerved back into the LH lane in front of me and braked hard before accelerating away off the next ramp. He nearly lost control of the car when he swerved. This bloke, by the way, wasn't some young hoon. I reckon he was in his 50s - and he was driving a Volvo! :eek:

Col - the (increasingly) cautious

[Ben from Vic.]

like one for one at on ramps..........Sydneyites can do it with some respect and commonsense.

Cheers

The amount of people who can't work the "zipper" on on-ramps and such is truly amazing.


I've heard that Sydneyites are some of the best when it comes to dealing with the trafic on the roads.

I wonder if it's just a natural progresion of growing cities.
When streets start to get to that slightly congested state, motorists go through states of selfishness and anger as their roads fill up, then eventaly resign themselves to the fact that they must share their road. As in Sydney.

Or not, and people are rectum-holes on the roads nowdays. :(

If Sydney drivers have mastered getting along (!) with each other, then Melbourne drivers have mastered cutting you off / blocking you out / running you off the road.

I always say that an added safety feature I've always wanted in my car is more power than the bloke next to me.


Ben-Manuel Fangio.

[Alastair]

Driver (et al)

Sounds like the prevailing driving style I remember from South Africa. I wonder if the preponderance of my ex countrymen in Perth has anything to do with the problem?

Alastair

[Termite]

I lived in the Philippines for 2 1/2 years, the rules there are "Whatever You Can Get Away With". Makes for veeerrrryyyy interesting driving.

[Driver]

Driver (et al)

Sounds like the prevailing driving style I remember from South Africa. I wonder if the preponderance of my ex countrymen in Perth has anything to do with the problem?

Alastair


Alastair

It's a mistake to think that there is a preponderance of South Africans in Perth. That was the media's big story prior to the Rugby World Cup - all that stuff about the England v Springboks game being like a home game for the Boks. Lot of cr@p of course. On the day, Subi was a sea of red and white, with a sprinkling of green.

Truth is, there are probably more English and Irish migrants in Perth than any other grouping.

I reckon Ben's got it right. The driving standards in most big cities are not too bad. People - even in Rome and Paris - tend to make way because if they didn't the place would snarl up. Perth hasn't really got past being a big country town yet. (Wouldn't want to live anywhere else, mind you :D )

Col - the settled Sandgroper.

[silentC]

I lived in the Philippines for 2 1/2 years, the rules there are "Whatever You Can Get Away With". Makes for veeerrrryyyy interesting driving.
Worst I ever saw was in KL. 7 or 8 'lanes' - lane markings didn't seem to matter to them. Merging and changing lanes all over the shop - all at top speed - people on bikes overtaking in the same lane as you're in. Our friend (ex-pat Aussie gone feral) picked us up from the airport and drove us into town. She was probably the maddest of the mad. Surprisingly it all seems to work itself out somehow.

Also stood on top of Arc de Triomphe for about 20 minutes watching the traffic. Amazing if you've never seen it. It's a big roundabout with a 5 lane road feeding into it. No lanes marked on the roundabout, they all just line up across it until they get a run and then all hell breaks loose.

http://www.mcgalliard.org/content/albums/arc_de_triomphe/image07.jpg

[Driver]

Also stood on top of Arc de Triomphe for about 20 minutes watching the traffic. .



Darren

You're not that famous Aussie who was arrested for frying up his brekkie on the eternal flame at the Arc de Triomphe, are you?

Col

[Termite]

Silent, imagine that pic with about 10 times the vehicles and you've got Manila on a good day.

[Grunt]

Worst I ever saw was in KL.

I spent a week in KL and thought the driving was atrocious. I then made it up to Bangkok. Malasians drive like angels in comparison.

I spent about 6 months in Thailand and drove a number of times. The rules are simple. Give way to anything that is bigger than you and sound your horn to let people know you're coming.

I didn't have the nerve to drive in Bangkok tho.

[Driver]

...and sound your horn to let people know you're coming.




Definition of a split second: the interval of time that elapses between when the traffic lights in Madrid turn green and when every driver of a car that is not in the front row on the grid hits the horn. AyYEE! Carramba!!!!

[vsquizz]

Running across the road in Seoul once and my watch band broke. It was a $100.00 watch...I left it there...

Termite from my experience, when in Manilla, never ever steal a Jeepney:D

Surabuya is about the worst I've seen.

Cheers

[DavidG]

Went to Indonesia, Jakarta.
Saw the traffic. Tore up my international drivers licence.
There was no way I was going to drive.
Lane markings mean nothing.
Cars, trucks passing you on the footpath. :eek:

Have you ever seen a car crossing a 4 lane (6 lanes of traffic) highway by actually driving into the on comming traffic (I mean "INTO", front on, not across) I hid my head until we were clear.
Thanks for Drivers, at least they understand the system so I did not need to drive.

KL is reasonable in comparison. I would drive there.

[Caliban]

So does that means everyone in those overseas places drives a volvo then?
Or worse still wears a lawnbowls hat. My old man always said watch out for them. If they are too stupid to not understand that you don't need sun protection inside the car, then give them plenty of room.
When you see a volvo driver with a hat, pray. :D

[journeyman Mick]

......I always say that an added safety feature I've always wanted in my car is more power than the bloke next to me.


Ben-Manuel Fangio.

Personally I prefer a 4wd dropside ute (nice and high for visibility and intimidation factor) with a steel dropside body, and steel bullbar and brushbars. I had a lady in a brand new landcruiser wagon run up the back of me when I was driving this ute, broke one of my tail lights, damage to her car: whole front end crumpled, windscreen smashed and oil and coolant all over the road :eek:

Mick

[kiwigeo]

So does that means everyone in those overseas places drives a volvo then?
Or worse still wears a lawnbowls hat. My old man always said watch out for them. If they are too stupid to not understand that you don't need sun protection inside the car, then give them plenty of room.
When you see a volvo driver with a hat, pray. :D
Not as bad as teenagers in backwards baseball caps driving early model Nissan Skylines.

Most Volvo drivers are bald...thats why they wear hats.

[kiwigeo]

Personally I prefer a 4wd dropside ute (nice and high for visibility and intimidation factor) with a steel dropside body, and steel bullbar and brushbars. I had a lady in a brand new landcruiser wagon run up the back of me when I was driving this ute, broke one of my tail lights, damage to her car: whole front end crumpled, windscreen smashed and oil and coolant all over the road :eek:

Mick
Next time make sure you have a load of ball bearings in the back of your ute....should wake up the person running up your ar...e when the tailgate flips open.

[Ben from Vic.]

Not as bad as teenagers in backwards baseball caps driving early model Nissan Skylines.

Most Volvo drivers are bald...thats why they wear hats.

Standing up for Volvo drivers????? :eek:


You don't own a Volvo do you Kiwigeo? ;) :p

[Alastair]

Alastair

It's a mistake to think that there is a preponderance of South Africans in Perth.
Col - the settled Sandgroper.

Col

The statement on the plethora of S Africans in Perth came more from a S A viewpoint. During the '80's and early '90's there was a constant exodus of economic 'refugees', and people of concience from SA to Oz. A very high percentage of these settled in Perth.

At that time the (white) political opposition to the government was the Progressive Federal Party, (PFP). With the above exodus, this was gleefully morphed into "Pack For Perth"

Some useless info

Alastair

[Driver]

Alastair

You're right, of course, there are plenty of South Africans over here. Two of our distinguished fellow members of this BB - Perth residents Derek and Joe (gatiep) are yarpies. I don't believe, however, that their presence has influenced driving standards in Perth. West Aussies have developed their unique abilities behind the wheel without outside help. :eek:

Col

[macca2]

Everthing that has been said about Perth drivers is true. We have the worst I have ever seen.
But that is not surprising when you consider that we don't do a lot in the driver training department.
We just issue a licence, let 'em buy a V8 and turn 'em loose. Then sit back and collect the millions of dollars from the Multinova speed cameras, while cleaning up the wreckage from our roads.

Frightening

Macca

[Driver]

Everthing that has been said about Perth drivers is true. We have the worst I have ever seen.
But that is not surprising when you consider that we don't do a lot in the driver training department.
We just issue a licence, let 'em buy a V8 and turn 'em loose. Then sit back and collect the millions of dollars from the Multinova speed cameras, while cleaning up the wreckage from our roads.

Frightening

Macca


Macca

Hear, hear! Couldn't agree more. This is the heart of the problem.

Col

[vsquizz]

Hey Col, Its rainin. Make sure you speed up on the roads and reduce your breaking distance accordingly. When in rome....


Cheers

[John Saxton]

The title suggests Perth Drivers, but there has been reference to W.A. drivers which is more suggestive of wide spread driving habits.

It appears that the manic depression :eek:(for want of a better term) behind the wheel here is widely manifest across the state,often quite evident on the Old Coast road,and the North West highway.

On any holiday weekend try and navigate these roads with the expectation of arriving at your destination intact and see the madness that ensues irrespective of the drivers origin!

Cheers :)

[Driver]

Hey Col, Its rainin. Make sure you speed up on the roads and reduce your breaking distance accordingly. When in rome....


Cheers

Squizzy

I did a little survey on the freeway this morning. I was leaving a reasonable braking distance gap plus a bit for the weather. In the space of roughly 30 klicks, twenty-five vehicles pulled into the space in front of me. I dropped back a bit each time, say an extra two seconds. 2 seconds x 25 = 50 seconds. That's how much longer it took me to get work today.

Yair, I know, it's nerdy and boring but, while we all have a laugh about driving standards, we're talking about piloting lethal machinery in a dangerous manner and potentially killing innocent people.

Col