Standard of Aussie driving and solution to congestion
Discussion
Yesterday, I had a few appointments around Melbourne and witnessed plenty of the usual incomprehensively poor driving that I have come to expect since moving here. It really is appalling! Virtually every day on our 15 min school run, there is a relatively serious accident to contend with. Generally, Aussie drivers are unobservant, unaware and seemingly brain dead.
Anyway, on with the second part of my thread, there was a major power cut across the eastern and south eastern suburbs of Melbourne yesterday pm and I prepared myself for the worst assuming that it would make me late, or even worse that I would not make it back at all because of some useless driver using me as their brakes. To my huge surprise, the journey was safer and quicker than normal despite all the traffic lights being out! Which sounds unbelievable, but it was true. The Aussie drivers all suddenly turned observant and courteous and even on 3 lane sections at junctions, 30 cars or so would go through one way, then the other way with no lights or people telling them what to do. I never sat at any lights for anywhere near as long as usual or saw any large queues anywhere, it worked like clockwork!
So there is my surprising solution to congestion, just switch the traffic lights off it will be safer, use less power, pollute less and speed up everyone's journey!
Anyway, on with the second part of my thread, there was a major power cut across the eastern and south eastern suburbs of Melbourne yesterday pm and I prepared myself for the worst assuming that it would make me late, or even worse that I would not make it back at all because of some useless driver using me as their brakes. To my huge surprise, the journey was safer and quicker than normal despite all the traffic lights being out! Which sounds unbelievable, but it was true. The Aussie drivers all suddenly turned observant and courteous and even on 3 lane sections at junctions, 30 cars or so would go through one way, then the other way with no lights or people telling them what to do. I never sat at any lights for anywhere near as long as usual or saw any large queues anywhere, it worked like clockwork!
So there is my surprising solution to congestion, just switch the traffic lights off it will be safer, use less power, pollute less and speed up everyone's journey!
...for a week then people will be back to impatient and rubbish adn the accidents will be more serious.
But I like your thought process. its the same reaction I would expect if they raised the speed limit to match those in the UK for example. But I think they need to make the tests harder here and include more disciplines...and ban undertaking, and fine middle lane hogging (though actually I could not legislate for poor application of such a fine).
But I like your thought process. its the same reaction I would expect if they raised the speed limit to match those in the UK for example. But I think they need to make the tests harder here and include more disciplines...and ban undertaking, and fine middle lane hogging (though actually I could not legislate for poor application of such a fine).
There was a write up recently on a German town/city that turned off all traffic lights, & removed all road signs.
Evidently the result was just as you have observed. Everything worked more smoothly.
I was thinking of this today, when I followed a slow 65Km/H in a 100 zone, for 14 kilometers as all the dotted centerlines, [overtaking permitted], have been repainted with double, [no overtaking] lines.
This is going on everywhere here, & they are going to be surprised when no one pays any attention to their laws any more.
Evidently the result was just as you have observed. Everything worked more smoothly.
I was thinking of this today, when I followed a slow 65Km/H in a 100 zone, for 14 kilometers as all the dotted centerlines, [overtaking permitted], have been repainted with double, [no overtaking] lines.
This is going on everywhere here, & they are going to be surprised when no one pays any attention to their laws any more.
Bibbs said:
Replace all large traffic junctions with roundabouts.
There are 2 roads from where I live towards the city, one with lights and one with roundabouts. Given the choice it's the roundabouts every time for me. Thinking about it, I have never seen accidents on that road, always they are on the traffic light road.Hasbeen said:
There was a write up recently on a German town/city that turned off all traffic lights, & removed all road signs.
Evidently the result was just as you have observed. Everything worked more smoothly.
I was thinking of this today, when I followed a slow 65Km/H in a 100 zone, for 14 kilometers as all the dotted centerlines, [overtaking permitted], have been repainted with double, [no overtaking] lines.
This is going on everywhere here, & they are going to be surprised when no one pays any attention to their laws any more.
I had heard of that as well and I reckon it's spot on. There are road signs everywhere, ridiculous changes in speed limits for no apparent reason on stretches of road, traffic lights that take so long to change, I'm in danger of nodding off. It doesn't encourage pro-active, responsible driving, it pushes everyone down to the lowest common denominator so you drive like a robot, bored, frustrated and probably angry at the slightest thing. Evidently the result was just as you have observed. Everything worked more smoothly.
I was thinking of this today, when I followed a slow 65Km/H in a 100 zone, for 14 kilometers as all the dotted centerlines, [overtaking permitted], have been repainted with double, [no overtaking] lines.
This is going on everywhere here, & they are going to be surprised when no one pays any attention to their laws any more.
WeirdNeville said:
The Police out here need their arses kicking too. Focus on speeding, because that's what causes accidents. And don't whatever you do let a young person in a V8, the world will end! All that power!
Agree with most of your post, especially young drivers and V8's, it is crazy. If I had had a V8 at that age, I would not be alive and kicking now! Completely disagree with the police focus on speeding - inappropriate speed, maybe, but not speeding in general. Poor driving, lack of observation and focus on the task in hand (ie driving!), driving too close to vehicle in front, middle-lane hoggers etc are the cause of far more accidents IMO and from what I have observed.
You are the first person out here I have heard of that reckons Police are not draconian - maybe that is Vic vs WA?
WeirdNeville said:
Sorry, I think you missed the irony in my post!
What I meant was:
It's lazy policing to focus on speeding, and follow the dumb, blind, ill informed mantra that speeding (alone) causes accidents.
Point the gun at the car, read the numbers, raise some revenue. It's pathetic, and detracts from the real work that can make roads safer.
Police here are certainly draconian. I am fortunate that my car is so dull it prevents me speeding at all, so I have yet to have any face to face dealings with them.
Yup, missed that, read it too fast! Me too on the dull car front. Though I'm about to collect my 911 from the port, not sure I'll manage to tick to the limits in that... What I meant was:
It's lazy policing to focus on speeding, and follow the dumb, blind, ill informed mantra that speeding (alone) causes accidents.
Point the gun at the car, read the numbers, raise some revenue. It's pathetic, and detracts from the real work that can make roads safer.
Police here are certainly draconian. I am fortunate that my car is so dull it prevents me speeding at all, so I have yet to have any face to face dealings with them.
I really don't think we can blame most of the cops WeirdNeville, most of them probably agree with you. It is the politicians directing them, with an eye on the revenue from the fines, that are mostly to blame.
I come from the days when the speed limit was 60 miles per hour, or any speed you deem fit. At 22 I had my race tuned Morgan +4, [124 MPH down Conrod straight], & regularly cruised at somewhere over 90 MPH, driving it from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane for race meetings. Many of us drove the race car to meetings in those days.
It is amazing to think now that we drove the Monaros of the original Holden Dealers Team from Sydney to Bathurst in convoy with a couple of other Monaros as mobile spare parts bins. After the race the cars were driven back to Lang Lang for a full evaluation of how they has stood up to the race.
They had to do some brake work on mine. I had run out of brakes with 13 laps to go. I did those 13 laps going back to third at 130 MPH, & second at 85MPH. I was amazed it took it & made the finish, but even more amazed when later told there was no sign of mistreatment in the engine or gearbox. Tough things those old 327s.
SGOxon said:
Bibbs said:
Replace all large traffic junctions with roundabouts.
There are 2 roads from where I live towards the city, one with lights and one with roundabouts. Given the choice it's the roundabouts every time for me. Thinking about it, I have never seen accidents on that road, always they are on the traffic light road.Roundabouts would not work in SA, adelaidians are the worst of all aussie drivers. There is roundabout comprising of two 'mini roundabouts' on the edge of the city and its carmaggedon. In the city at least their general observations skills are non existent, tail gateing is continuous, no courtesy (and their proud of it) and when the rain comes everyone forgets how to drive. At least the condition of the cars has improved over the last 10 years - there are less bombs on the road
twosocks said:
Roundabouts would not work in SA, adelaidians are the worst of all aussie drivers. There is roundabout comprising of two 'mini roundabouts' on the edge of the city and its carmaggedon. In the city at least their general observations skills are non existent, tail gateing is continuous, no courtesy (and their proud of it) and when the rain comes everyone forgets how to drive. At least the condition of the cars has improved over the last 10 years - there are less bombs on the road
Imagine the carnage of the Magic Roundabout from Swindon here.....
twosocks said:
Roundabouts would not work in SA, adelaidians are the worst of all aussie drivers. There is roundabout comprising of two 'mini roundabouts' on the edge of the city and its carmaggedon. In the city at least their general observations skills are non existent, tail gateing is continuous, no courtesy (and their proud of it) and when the rain comes everyone forgets how to drive. At least the condition of the cars has improved over the last 10 years - there are less bombs on the road
I would disagree to Adeladians being the worst, I still think Perth was worse while I was there. However I do know the roundabout you are referring to; my GF actively drives the long way round just to avoid it. It is shocking for both its layout and how drivers don;t have a clue how to use it. But whoever designed a pair of roundabout that effectively allow cars to stop between them on a silly little triangle of no mans land needs shooting ( and why they have redesigned it with, yep, another dual roundabout layout ).I agree that lighted roundabouts rather than intersections would be a lot better, but too late to put them in
I believe there was another study done regarding remving the white lines on roads. This is also supposed to have the same effect and make drivers concentrate more and lower accidents. Removing street lights was also another thing touted at doing the same.....
That's the one, aka the brittania, that has apparently been redesigned! I am yet to drive across it. WRT to the triangle of no mans land - no sane person would see it as a safe place to pause, let alone 'park' in rush hour. You just need to time it right to get across in one go, a concept that is beyond most drivers here!
Gassing Station | Australia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff