Driving in Australia vs UK
Discussion
I've been in Australia for just over two and a half years now and just been pondering the differences between driving habits in Oz and the UK. A couple of points to preface:
- An Australian friend who I've been driven by a couple of times in the UK when he visited noted how fast everyone seems to drive in Britain. He drove what seemed uncomfortably slowly on the M1 during one trip but said he defaulted to the speed he was used to in Oz.
- Many people (including on PH), when I told them I was considering a move to Oz, mentioned 'terrible driving standards' in Australia, with Melbourne being the worst.
My experiences...
- Indeed people drive generally more slowly in Oz. A 'freeway' drive is often frustratingly slow.
- I've not noticed 'terrible' driving to be on the whole more common than in the UK. I can only recall two real 'wtf?!?' moments from other drivers.
- On the contrary, actually, with other drivers being quite polite and patient in busy commute routes.
- Strange lack of confidence, sometimes, in particular in navigating parked cars etc. I've been stuck many times behind other drivers waiting for a car coming the opposite direction to pass a car parked on the left but with more than enough space for both cars to pass easily. Indeed I passed a car parked on the left a couple of days ago and a driver coming the opposite way screeched to a halt, beeped and gesticulated despite there being loads of space for us to pass. Similarly, excessive slowing down for corners, hesitation at junctions - not really better or worse driving, simply a more cautious style compared to the UK.
- Motor/Freeway lane discipline ('keep left') is probably worse in Oz - albeit perhaps I notice it more as I'm instinctively inclined to go faster than 90% of the traffic. But undertaking seems more commonly accepted (is it allowed?).
Anyone else had these sort of experiences?
- An Australian friend who I've been driven by a couple of times in the UK when he visited noted how fast everyone seems to drive in Britain. He drove what seemed uncomfortably slowly on the M1 during one trip but said he defaulted to the speed he was used to in Oz.
- Many people (including on PH), when I told them I was considering a move to Oz, mentioned 'terrible driving standards' in Australia, with Melbourne being the worst.
My experiences...
- Indeed people drive generally more slowly in Oz. A 'freeway' drive is often frustratingly slow.
- I've not noticed 'terrible' driving to be on the whole more common than in the UK. I can only recall two real 'wtf?!?' moments from other drivers.
- On the contrary, actually, with other drivers being quite polite and patient in busy commute routes.
- Strange lack of confidence, sometimes, in particular in navigating parked cars etc. I've been stuck many times behind other drivers waiting for a car coming the opposite direction to pass a car parked on the left but with more than enough space for both cars to pass easily. Indeed I passed a car parked on the left a couple of days ago and a driver coming the opposite way screeched to a halt, beeped and gesticulated despite there being loads of space for us to pass. Similarly, excessive slowing down for corners, hesitation at junctions - not really better or worse driving, simply a more cautious style compared to the UK.
- Motor/Freeway lane discipline ('keep left') is probably worse in Oz - albeit perhaps I notice it more as I'm instinctively inclined to go faster than 90% of the traffic. But undertaking seems more commonly accepted (is it allowed?).
Anyone else had these sort of experiences?
Keeping left eye only really applies over 80 km/h. Road rules say:
When driving on any multi-lane road with a speed limit over 80km/h, you must keep out of the right lane unless:
- you are overtaking or turning right, or
- all lanes are congested.
If the right lane is a transit lane, this rule applies to the lane immediately to the left of the transit lane.
Which is why undertaking is commonplace on Citylink for example.
Nothing like coming across someone cruising past “Keep Left” signs in the outside lane at 105 in a 110 limit. I got it frequently on my way home on the freeway. I used to attempt to persuade them out the way, now I just undertake.
Tailgating is the first me that s
ts me. There are two types:
1) fkwit tattooed tradies with their CFMEU stickered, jacked up crew cab utes (with multiple accessories) in a hurry to get home to their tattooed, gym gear wearing wannabe influencer girl friend and the two Staffies, who drive right up your arse to try and force you out the way. They are best dealt with by casually knocking a few km/h off the cruise setting, thus making them a fraction of a second later than they were before.
2) fkwits who don’t actually want past but just tailgate for some strange reason. They are best dealt with by addition my a few km/h on to the cruise setting.
Queensland is worse - on the freeways they all drive at 5 km/h below the speed limit.
When driving on any multi-lane road with a speed limit over 80km/h, you must keep out of the right lane unless:
- you are overtaking or turning right, or
- all lanes are congested.
If the right lane is a transit lane, this rule applies to the lane immediately to the left of the transit lane.
Which is why undertaking is commonplace on Citylink for example.
Nothing like coming across someone cruising past “Keep Left” signs in the outside lane at 105 in a 110 limit. I got it frequently on my way home on the freeway. I used to attempt to persuade them out the way, now I just undertake.
Tailgating is the first me that s
ts me. There are two types:1) f
kwit tattooed tradies with their CFMEU stickered, jacked up crew cab utes (with multiple accessories) in a hurry to get home to their tattooed, gym gear wearing wannabe influencer girl friend and the two Staffies, who drive right up your arse to try and force you out the way. They are best dealt with by casually knocking a few km/h off the cruise setting, thus making them a fraction of a second later than they were before.2) f
kwits who don’t actually want past but just tailgate for some strange reason. They are best dealt with by addition my a few km/h on to the cruise setting.Queensland is worse - on the freeways they all drive at 5 km/h below the speed limit.
Some things I have noticed. (Perth)
Speed limit is enforced as a limit strictly with hefty fines. So common for drivers to be 5-10km below it much of the time
Parking bays are much bigger for all the utes... which is a blessing
Other drivers are mostly polite, make room for you if you indicate etc.
Perth has a specific issue with a couple of highways that are used for commuting, and during rush hours they are a bit of a mare - much more like an LA freeway than a UK motorway.
Trucks don't have a differential speed limit as they do in the UK, so you have to get used to trucks/ road trains being in the right lane, rather than being glued to the left.
Speed limit is enforced as a limit strictly with hefty fines. So common for drivers to be 5-10km below it much of the time
Parking bays are much bigger for all the utes... which is a blessing
Other drivers are mostly polite, make room for you if you indicate etc.
Perth has a specific issue with a couple of highways that are used for commuting, and during rush hours they are a bit of a mare - much more like an LA freeway than a UK motorway.
Trucks don't have a differential speed limit as they do in the UK, so you have to get used to trucks/ road trains being in the right lane, rather than being glued to the left.
Having experienced both Perth and NSW traffic, I can't say there is much difference between the two.
In my last few years here in NSW my two main bug bears are:
1) The inability to keep left as mentioned above. There are stretches of the M1 where southbound towards Sydney you can see ahead for a good few KM's and not a single person is in the inside lane, even with no trucks in it! Suits me, I love cruising down the inside lane.
2) I notice a lot more people here who will turn at the last minute, and do so as slowly as possible!
One bonus is that since buying my 300 SRT, most road users in front move out the way, and those coming towards me who are speeding, slow down rather quickly! I thank NSW Highway Patrol for having a fleet of both marked and unmarked 300's for that
In my last few years here in NSW my two main bug bears are:
1) The inability to keep left as mentioned above. There are stretches of the M1 where southbound towards Sydney you can see ahead for a good few KM's and not a single person is in the inside lane, even with no trucks in it! Suits me, I love cruising down the inside lane.
2) I notice a lot more people here who will turn at the last minute, and do so as slowly as possible!
One bonus is that since buying my 300 SRT, most road users in front move out the way, and those coming towards me who are speeding, slow down rather quickly! I thank NSW Highway Patrol for having a fleet of both marked and unmarked 300's for that
NSW. People don't pull out on highways to let you on at slip roads. Then others just pull on anyway from the slip if you can move over or not.
I miss people pulling out and being helpful. Had the boat on the back a while ago. Inside lane. Someone in the outside overtaking alongside the boat. Then someone just starts pulling on from the sliproad.
I miss people pulling out and being helpful. Had the boat on the back a while ago. Inside lane. Someone in the outside overtaking alongside the boat. Then someone just starts pulling on from the sliproad.
1> Agree that locals (I'm in NSW/Sydney) drive slowly. I drive the Princes Hwy most days which is 70kmh limit in a lot of places and even in light traffic there are people driving at 20kmh below that.
2> Pulling away from traffic lights I "drive" away whereas they seem to roll away.
3> I think speed limits are set too low, especially outside of built up areas. I have a dual carriage way near me, no major hazards but the speed limit is 80kmh (50mph) when it could easily be 100kmh. Even roads such as M7, M4 and M5 could be 120-130kmh.
4> Speed limits vary too much on similar standards of road. One dual carriageway will be 70kmh, but another one of similar standard will be 100kmh.
5> Solid white line markings mean nothing and are OK to cross to change lanes.
6> Merging means stop, wait for decent size gap and then pull out usually straight to the outside lane.
7> What is it at traffic lights when people stop, but leave 2 car lengths in front of them? And then they may spend the red light period gradually rolling forward???
8> Not so much driving, but on some main roads such as the Princes Hwy, parking is allowed outside of clearway hours. Roads like this should be 24/7 clearways such as the red routes in London. It annoys me somewhat when you have one parked car stopping the use of the inside lane. Happened to me last Saturday when I was following a car in the inside lane and he indicates so I thought he was turning left at the next junction, but he was parking and just stopped leaving me trying to pull out around him in heavy traffic into the middle lane.
9> Traffic light phasing is terrible/not existent. if you drive at around the speed limit between lights, they should be phased to allow traffic flow, but it seems to be set to stop you at every set. As a shift worker I quite often drive at 2-3am, and quite often have to stop at lights to allow no one out.
Been here 15 years and still find driving here less enjoyable and more unpredictable than the UK. I'm not sure I feel any better for getting all that off my chest!
2> Pulling away from traffic lights I "drive" away whereas they seem to roll away.
3> I think speed limits are set too low, especially outside of built up areas. I have a dual carriage way near me, no major hazards but the speed limit is 80kmh (50mph) when it could easily be 100kmh. Even roads such as M7, M4 and M5 could be 120-130kmh.
4> Speed limits vary too much on similar standards of road. One dual carriageway will be 70kmh, but another one of similar standard will be 100kmh.
5> Solid white line markings mean nothing and are OK to cross to change lanes.
6> Merging means stop, wait for decent size gap and then pull out usually straight to the outside lane.
7> What is it at traffic lights when people stop, but leave 2 car lengths in front of them? And then they may spend the red light period gradually rolling forward???
8> Not so much driving, but on some main roads such as the Princes Hwy, parking is allowed outside of clearway hours. Roads like this should be 24/7 clearways such as the red routes in London. It annoys me somewhat when you have one parked car stopping the use of the inside lane. Happened to me last Saturday when I was following a car in the inside lane and he indicates so I thought he was turning left at the next junction, but he was parking and just stopped leaving me trying to pull out around him in heavy traffic into the middle lane.
9> Traffic light phasing is terrible/not existent. if you drive at around the speed limit between lights, they should be phased to allow traffic flow, but it seems to be set to stop you at every set. As a shift worker I quite often drive at 2-3am, and quite often have to stop at lights to allow no one out.
Been here 15 years and still find driving here less enjoyable and more unpredictable than the UK. I'm not sure I feel any better for getting all that off my chest!
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