Are Drivers Habits Getting Worse?

Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 10:56
Last edited 21/10/2018 - 13:48 by 1 other user

Is it me or are people's driving habits getting worse?

  1. Driving through red lights.
  2. People deciding to make late lane change across multiple lanes to get to a turn off.
  3. Uber drivers worst.
  4. Then Taxi drivers.
  5. People sitting in right hand lane 10kms below speed limit rather than freeing up that lane and being courteous.
  6. No indicating at roundabouts. Just not in ndicating at all for turns or lane changes.

I could go on and I see this often and don't drive that much only short drive from work to home each day.

Automotive

Comments

        • Chewiebacca on 14/10/2018 - 18:59
          +12

          You slow down to the speed limit, and they should be overtaking from your right.

          • syousef on 15/10/2018 - 10:08
            -5

            @Chewiebacca: This is not correct. You should slow to the speed limit, cop a fine for speeding, and they should be losing their license.

            • So lo on 15/10/2018 - 20:42
              +1

              @syousef: Might as well behead their children while we're at it. 🤣

              • syousef on 15/10/2018 - 21:22

                @So lo: Because failing to intentionally speed is like beheading children? Yeah okay, loving this place today.

                • So lo on 15/10/2018 - 22:01
                  -1

                  @syousef: My comment is a reflection of you making up punishments like Judge Dread.

                  they should be losing their license

                  No, they should receive a 334 dollar fine and 1 demerit point (in South Australia).

                  In addition, a 174 dollar fine and 2 demerit points for speeding under 10km/hr.

                  This is the law and this is what they should get, not whatever you decide based on having a shitty day on ozb.

                  • syousef on 15/10/2018 - 23:13

                    @So lo: 3 points in total hey? So it is a behaviour so bad that if they do it 4 times in 3 years they wave goodbye to your license. Anyone who repeatedly and intentionally speeds should repeatedly be caught and have their license revoked. THAT IS (not I am) the law.

                    I'm sorry you can't tell the difference between a fictional character that practices summary execution, and removing dangerous drivers from the road. The irony is that one idiot behind the wheel who thinks too much of themselves often is judge, jury and executioner.

                    I am so sick and tired of apologists who regularly do 10-30km/hr over the speed limit because they think they're better drivers and can handle the speed better than everyone else. Of course they won't admit it directly but often blurt out evidence of this attitude while ranting about others. People who think road rage exercised through the regularly deadly practice of tail gating ranting about the perceived sleights other "slow, dangerous" drivers using "their" road and excusing/justifying deadly behaviour. People who get annoyed at others maintaining their speed and using their brakes so as not to disobey the speed limit, as seen on this thread. In short terrible potentially deadly drivers who think they're heaven's gift to a steering wheel.

                    So yeah that's a bad day. I know I and people i care about share the roads with these delusional dangerous people.

                    • So lo on 16/10/2018 - 12:11
                      -1

                      @syousef:

                      3 points in total hey? So it is a behaviour so bad that if they do it 4 times in 3 years they wave goodbye to your license.

                      Yes, repeated bad behaviour would warrant loss of licence, not a singular incident. As a person who has ridden motorbikes for almost 10 years as their only form of transport (applicable because riders are put at huge risk from tailgaters), I understand your frustration, and I would even agree with you that people who tailgate do it habitually. But you can't punish people for probabilities of committing offenses they haven't actually done (and you can't dole out randomly harsh punishments that don't align with the laws either).

                      As for the OP, based on my experience in SA, this is what you do here:
                      1. Slow down to the speed limit.
                      2. Wait for a safe opportunity for them to be able to overtake.
                      3. Slow down to 15km/hr below the limit without using your brakes. Just let it coast; if you're going downhill, put the car in a lower gear (YES YOUR AUTOMATIC CAR CAN DO THIS, READ THE MANUAL! [My pet peeve, driving down hill and seeing all of humanity ride the brakes])
                      4. Watch as they overtake, then proceed to slow down to the speed limit, now resulting in everyone driving 5km/hr slower BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE AT THE FRONT OF THE QUEUE. That's all it is, fragile ego requiring them to be FIRST!

                      • syousef on 17/10/2018 - 06:59

                        @So lo: No, you shouldn't be putting your automatic car in lower gear to slow down. Ignoring whether or not it's bad for the engine it gives less of a visual cue that you're slowing down (no tail lights). Your pet peeve might just signal to a driver behind you in a more obvious way and prevent crash. In any case that is not what you would expect most road users to do. I manage to get plenty of wear out of my brakes without engine breaking, and I drive a Falcon wagon, not a small car.

                        I just love how so many people think they're god's gift to driving and everyone else is a bad driver because they don't brake the road rules (and apply the brakes) in exactly the same way.

                        • So lo on 17/10/2018 - 13:08

                          @syousef: Thanks for pulling that out of context. I specifically wrote "if you're going downhill". Putting it in one lower gear generally helps prevent your car from undue acceleration down the hill (unless we're talking about extreme decline).

                          You're reading what you want, not what people are writing. Good day.

                          • syousef on 20/10/2018 - 09:19

                            @So lo: When you put a car in gear while going downhill your brake light does not light to warn the driver behind that you're slowing down. A moment of inattention from a less than perfect driver and they hit you. If you were using the brakes the tail light might catch their attention instead. Not a good plan. I don't know why you think that's out of context.

        • ThithLord on 15/10/2018 - 08:50
          -1

          Depends what speed you're doing in relation to how far your Speedometer is out. For example, when my Speedo says I'm doing 117km/h, I'm actually doing 110km/h (out by about 7km/h at that speed). So if you're doing 115km/h, you could be doing a lot less than you think.

          • syousef on 15/10/2018 - 21:23
            -1

            @ThithLord: It isn't hard to check your speedo and work out what speed you're actually doing.

      • alisso on 14/10/2018 - 15:15
        +21

        I'm often in the right lane on Sydney's M7, doing the speed limit because I'm overtaking slower traffic (usually just before an off ramp or after an on ramp) and end up with an angry tailgater flashing their high beams at me. Even if I literally cannot change lanes without having to speed to get past the people in the left.

        Then the moment that I COULD safely move over, they undertake me and speed off at 10-20kms over the limit. Occasionally giving me the finger or shouting at me as they do.

        I'm not willing to break the law for a stranger, and I'm not going to sit behind people doing 80 in a 100 zone just in case someone who wants to do 110 is on their way. I just want to follow the road rules and do 100.

        Tailgating me in that situation does no one any good.

        • Ughhh on 14/10/2018 - 16:27
          +6

          The only thing I can suggest is to check your mirrors to see if there are any upcoming cars behind who are passing cars very fast. If there is, judge whether you can overtake before that fast car comes, if you can't, just wait until they pass then overtake the slower cars.

          • alisso on 15/10/2018 - 10:24

            @Ughhh: I do. I don't pull out into the right lane until I have enough of a gap that I can move out safely, and get up to the speed limit before anyone gets near me. But passing an off-ramp tail back can take time, and if I'm doing the speed limit and someone behind me is speeding, they'll catch up with me eventually.

            If I had to wait for everyone going faster than the speed limit to pass me, I'd just have to stay in the left lane all the way home.

        • ankor on 15/10/2018 - 07:35
          +1

          I recently had to stop suddenly because the bloody car in front of me didn't have working brake lights and it just started to loom much bloody larger in my view - all because car in front wanted to change lanes without indicating and thought it was great to just suddenly hit the brakes.

          Had I been travelling at less than 2sec behind that surely would have been a collision. As it was, the person behind me also had to initiate a very sketchy brake replete with fishtailing and screeching tyres because he was tailgating me. Luckily both of us avoided the collision with the vehicle in front.

          I wish I took that front driver's licence plate down so I could report him to the police for a roadworthy check and unsafe driving argh.

        • bloobat on 15/10/2018 - 10:55
          -5

          Break the law… Really? A bit over the limit really isn't a crime mate

          • alisso on 15/10/2018 - 11:12
            +2

            @bloobat: I mean, it literally is? Road rules are part of state law, and speeding is breaking that law. There are tolerances built into the system because there's room for error (faulty speedo, tyre wear/pressure affecting speed measurement, the general difficulty of precisely maintaining speed), but you can be arrested for speeding, if they can show you were blatantly disobeying the law.

            Even disregarding whether you consider speeding to be a crime, I'm also not willing to risk being fined for it for the sake of an impatient stranger.

      • xyee on 14/10/2018 - 18:41
        +2

        Agree with you on this. Besides, NSW road rules: keep left unless overtaking; QLD road rules: 90kmph or more zones, keep left unless overtaking/turning right. No legal right to sit on the right hand lane.

        People who sit on the right hand lane under the speed limit contribute to traffic congestion by impeding the flow of traffic and cause ghost jams.

        • mooseca on 15/10/2018 - 00:55

          No in NSW it's 80kmph or more zones where U have to keep left unless overtaking unless signposted

      • abb on 15/10/2018 - 09:13
        +5

        People dont understand that by not driving to the speed limit it has a muliplying consequence to that lane. You drive at 10km below. I drive another 5k below that to keep clear of you and so on to the other cars behind.

        This is the worst example of maths/ciritical thinking/strawman I've seen for a long time.

        Let's do a worked example.

        Speed limit is 60, driver in right-hand lane is doing 50. You claim you must do 45 to avoid collision, the driver behind you 40 "and so on". That means that the 10th car behind the front car is stopped. (50 - 5*10 = 0). Come on.

        If the car in front of you is doing 50, guess what, you can do 50 too. You just have to leave a ~2s gap - the best way to do this is to reduce your speed before you get too close!

        • geoffs87 on 15/10/2018 - 13:32

          I agree with you, but if we then move onto an economic reasoning - lost productivity.

          Say the car is in the right lane going 10km/h below the limit in a 60km/h zone. Say that person stays that way for a full hour and there are 10 cars behind them, that equates to a full hour of wasted time, collectively for those 10 drivers behind the slow driver (assuming for the full hour you couldn't get into the left lane, or theres only one lane in total…)

          Now say those people were on their way to work, and they arrive late, thats a full hour of lost productivity because of the one slow driver. Imagine that happened every day, and there was more than one driver in Australia being slow.

          Now, i'm not suggesting going slow is a bad thing, and certainly not suggesting speeding is a good thing, just reasoning that slow drivers can impact on a much broader scale!

          • abb on 15/10/2018 - 14:51

            @geoffs87: Your maths is a little off too.

            1 hour @ 50km/h means a distance of 50km was travelled. At 60km/h, this would take (50/60) * 60 = 50 minutes.
            So the lost time is 10 minutes (multiply by each car so inconvenienced).
            But then we have to subtract the fuel savings (roughly proportional to speed cubed), reduction in pollution, etc.
            And also, I dunno about your boss, but if I'm late to work I have to stay back later too.

            Now compare to the scenario where the driver is forced to drive at a speed higher than they are comfortable with and crashes ;)

            In busy city traffic, things like queueing across intersections are the time killers.

            On that note, 50km/h average speed?! Sign me up! My daily commute is mostly 70km/h zone but my average speed is about 15…

      • akashra on 15/10/2018 - 09:35
        +2

        This fallacy comes up all so often, claiming that others are doing 5 and even 10km/h below the speed limit. 10km/h difference is a massive difference in speed in terms of overtaking. It's not like we're just creeping up on you.

        Early last week I tried an experiment on the Tullamarine Freeway in the morning - I set my speedo and GPS so I was sitting dead on 80 (speedo shows the needle just barely the other side at that speed - barely 82). You know how many other cars I passed? Zero.

        Not to mention everyone's tailgating everyone anyway, so there's barely a safe time to change lanes if you adhere to a 1-3 second gap - a 2 second gap in an adjacent lane means you're now squeezing in to a 1 second gap for 2 cars.

        People need to stop using this "everyone else is doing 5km/h below the speed limit". For one they're not, and two, the limit is a limit, not a mandate. Even VicRoads ran a massive campaign around dropping 5km/h off your speed.

    • Nugs on 14/10/2018 - 11:52
      +12

      "What do you do with those 3 seconds? "

      it's not the 3 seconds, its the change of lights that 'might' be gained by travelling faster.

      .

    • Seedy seed on 14/10/2018 - 14:39

      They prob self abuse for a extra 3 seconds because its all about how they feel.

    • Mike88 on 14/10/2018 - 17:33

      Yes the public road is a shared space and the slow drivers could always pull over and let the drivers doing the speed limit pass, argument goes both ways.
      How do you get 3 seconds loss? Depending how long you are travelling behind them and speed difference can end up changing your journey time dramatically. Not even taking into account getting stuck at additional sets of lights. Once you pass slow driver you get stuck behind the next.

      • resisting the urge on 14/10/2018 - 19:27
        +2

        A lot of slow drivers think everyone else should slow down to their speed.

        So they can feel safer.

        It is no more complex than that. To this end, they will deliberately or invariably make you slow down before taking any time to consider changing their behaviour to let you past, whether you are driving legally or otherwise. They don't care if you have your time wasted unnecessarily, or if they are driving erratically with no reason. They choose to act like they have no mirrors or are unable to use them- and we all know it which is why people get upset.

        No point getting shirty with them, as they will never change. Too many of drivers just have trouble seeing from another's perspective.

        There are many drivers who are nearing the time that they will lose their license due to age alone. They can be unable to keep up with the traffic, esp. on competitive road like Sydney's M2, the M4 or the M7 or Melbourne's 6-lane monster roads. Or you have the distracted, the inept, the incapable, poorly trained, the phone users, those conducting a party whilst driving, or imagining life on an island, or a mountain, worrying about what to say when they get home, or to work, or to the cops, or a judge…

        When I see them, I expect them to be dangerous. I give them space and wait. Patiently. Doing anything else risks you, them and everyone else. Even a 60kmh accident will likely end up in a mess you will never forget and wish you had exercised the caution to avoid.

        • Mike88 on 14/10/2018 - 21:06

          These people are what is wrong with society today.
          I agree though you do need to drive defensively around them as they are likely the cause of an accident.

    • HighAndDry on 15/10/2018 - 14:21
      +1

      a public road is a shared space

      That applies to slow drivers in the overtaking lane too. There are more than a single lane for a reason.

    • fr33loader on 15/10/2018 - 20:42

      I have a dashcam points at the back. But its not working, just there for decoration. (My front dashcam do work)

      It's good enough, seen many instances of tailgaters suddenly keeping their distance. Good on them :)

      Also, I did notice some really eccentric people's reaction when they realise there's a dashcam. Some would strike a pose, wave, or sometimes do a little dance. Wish I could tell them the dashcam is not working.

  • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 11:19
    +1

    My experience is more tradies rather than truck drivers. More of a target these days by police the truck drivers. But I'm sure the truck drivers get lazy.

    • Cheeper on 14/10/2018 - 11:20

      Tradies utes can do amazing things :-(

      • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 11:24
        +1

        U turns over multiple lanes and dividing freeway breaks.

    • abuch47 on 14/10/2018 - 19:22
      +2

      Trucks are slower by nature, tradies tend to be egotistical. This is due to the general cultural of being tuff (sic) in building. I cycle, catch PT and drive a ute as a tradie. When driving I'll move through traffic like a boy racer until I find open road where I can put cruise on at the speed limit. I give heaps of room to cycles of both types as I know they have no protection and have been in those positions before.

      Uber drivers are insane, I love that people can supplement income by carting others around but they'll do whatever they want to get to their destination. Taxis can be similar but in general are much smoother either 5 kph under or over. Tradies are all over the shop in the company car pretty decent, in their own cars probably close to the worst on the road they do not give a (profanity).

      Just this morning driving my ute to breakfast sitting on 50kph on a windy suburban street this motorbike (.6 L looked like) came flying up and passed at about 80kph then disappeared like that All of a sudden I have a VE omega on my arse so I speed a little and take roundabouts quicker doesn't appease. So I sit like that for a while showing them I'm not gonna pullover or break the law to help you out. Eventually get sick of it and launch and get a way ahead when I see the motorbike pulled over waiting for his wife I assume driving the sedan. Pass him and turn like a normal human being at a T section and see them hoon after each other the other way.

      I'd love to get a two way cheapish dashcam, maybe a Blackvue.

  • rompastompa on 14/10/2018 - 11:20
    +10

    Yes.

    It could be population growth, so same percentage, but you're seeing it more.
    It could be the international licenses being transferred instead of getting their license here.
    It could be pressure of trying to get places faster, due to work stress
    It could be general stress of living due to inflated prices
    It could be lack of law enforcement for minor infringements. (I wish I was a policer officer, and could pull over people who slowly stay in the right lane for their whole journey, only to turn left last second!).

    • hawkeye on 14/10/2018 - 12:43

      It could be that decent cameras have only been around for awhile so we're starting to see more and more of it. 10 years ago you'd barely make out it was a car from the resolution

    • elgrande on 14/10/2018 - 14:31
      -3

      Right Lane != higher speed limit

      • rompastompa on 14/10/2018 - 14:52
        +6

        Failing to keep left in a multi-lane road = 2 demerit points and $50 fine. Source

        I shouldn't have mentioned speed but it annoys me when I'm going the limit, or close to, and I need to undertake someone who is in the right lane doing much less than the limit.

        The left lane is clear, I'm the only one in the left lane. Why are they in the right lane?! It is legal in Australia, but it still is dangerous (that's why it's illegal in some countries) - Source

        • donga100 on 14/10/2018 - 16:36

          if the speed limit is 90km/h or more

          • resisting the urge on 14/10/2018 - 19:33

            @donga100: Depends on the state or territory. And if there are marked lanes or not, and in some cases speed. In NSW it looks like they got rid of the law that prevented you overtaking on the left on highways- in the city was always allowed. After all, here highways are often single lane (each way) roads, or overcrowded 2 lane roads so having any rule saying overtaking on the left is impractical in many circumstances.

    • cuteseal on 15/10/2018 - 10:16
      +1

      Perhaps one factor is just more cars on the road, far more than our road infrastructure was designed to handle, and everyone is more on edge because of it.

      I used to love going for a Sunday afternoon drive when you there was less cars on the road and you could just enjoy the cruise, maybe grab a nice coffee and paper at a cafe along the way.
      Nowadays even on weekends, every road is banked up, with cars everywhere, and driving has become more like a chore.

      And don't get me started on peak hour traffic, monday to friday.

  • Fier2 on 14/10/2018 - 11:20
    • people who look at only one side before turning and end up often a near miss collision with the car coming in the side they should have look first !

    *people who can wait at busy roundabout and engaged themselves hoping you will slow down or brakes for them.

    • people who take a 90° turn whithout slowing down and ended smashing in the car at the intesection

    I think nowadays everyone can have their license easily and this is why death tolls on the road is so high

  • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 11:26

    I think road tolls have actually stayed steady for the number of cars that have increased over time. Agree that anyone seems to be able to get a license if from overseas. There should be stricter rules for those drivers not with similar road regs that come from overseas.

    • resisting the urge on 14/10/2018 - 19:37

      IIRC a visitor doesn't need an international driving license, or a valid overseas license to drive here, they just need to claim 3 years or more experience driving elsewhere.

  • Blue Cat on 14/10/2018 - 12:27

    I don't know if it is just me, but I am starting to notice more and more motorcycle riders in Sydney, compared to something like 5 years ago.
    Of course, they don't follow rules, drive aggressively (under the guise of "hectic cool guy"), drive in-between the cars in traffic jams and make a lot of near misses.
    I am afraid it will soon be like Bali or something where 95% of traffic is motorcycles and traffic jams everywhere caused by chaos and not following the rules by motorcyclists.

    • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 13:31
      +1

      Could they be Dilveroo or other delivery service riders.

    • minklet on 14/10/2018 - 14:25
      +6

      Do you have anything at all to back this comment up? I ride a motorcycle and I'm a law abiding driver, far more attentive than half the preoccupied idiots in SUVs I see everywhere. On their phones, reading the paper, even eating FFS. Statistically cyclist and motorcyclists are safer drivers and it is the four wheeled vehicles that cause 90% of collisions between themselves and 2 wheels

      Motorcycles are simply more efficient in the city, cars are the most wasteful means of transport, you should be glad people like me don't drive out cars to work instead.

      PS lane filtering is legal, safe and effective at easing congestion.

      • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 18:01

        There are good and bad drivers and riders. Personally I wouldn't want to be a rider just for the fact of what I was saying that I think drivers are getting worse at road rules and how they drive. Saw an accident right in front of me once and the rider was on the left side between parked cars and the moving traffic. Van driver decided he wanted to make a left turn. The motorcyclist didn't have a chance. Sandwiched between the parked car and van. Lucky for him within like 1 minute 2 paramedics appeared from like nowhere. It was weared.

        The rider however could have helped himself a bit as well by wearing leathers or more appropriate gear than a T shirt and shorts. At least he had a helmet on.

      • HighAndDry on 15/10/2018 - 14:35

        PS lane filtering is legal, safe and effective at easing congestion.

        Agree with basically everything you say (as far as it's applied personally to yourself - you can't vouch for every other motorcyclist after all), up to here.

        Lane filtering is legal, yes. Whether it's safe or effective at easing congestion is another thing entirely. Not that I see this all the time, but I do commonly see motorcyclists lane filter where there isn't any room for them to do so, and then they're stuck awkwardly at an angle between two cars.

        • minklet on 15/10/2018 - 17:35
          +1

          You can say that about any safe practice. Seat belts are safer but if you tie them round your neck it's probably less so

          • HighAndDry on 15/10/2018 - 17:37

            @minklet: There's one very easily and objectively knowable way to wear a seat belt. But I agree with you - generally, any law that requires "…in a safe and reasonable manner" at the end of it, isn't a good law because it becomes completely open to interpretation and faith in the person to follow that. And if you're going to rely on that, you might as well replace all road rules with "Drive safely."

    • bobbified on 14/10/2018 - 16:47

      drive aggressively (under the guise of "hectic cool guy"),

      Are you mistakening "loud" as "aggressive" just because they sound scary?

      drive in-between the cars in traffic jams

      This is actually legal at low speed.

  • Some Human on 14/10/2018 - 12:27
    1. using phone while driving.
    • Yummy on 14/10/2018 - 13:05

      I wish my stares could kill, or at least scares em. But they are too occupied anyway. Might need to put a large sticker on my car saying: I AM A BIKIE.

    • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 13:28

      The head bobble. Ver popular.

  • Levathian on 14/10/2018 - 12:36
    +4

    My least favourite are muppets who brake heavily for green lights, which then turn amber, but that car gets through and you get the red.. while if they hadn't braked you both would have made it through.

    • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 13:30
      +1

      Yeah that's one of my favourite as well. I seem to be the one that is always stuck at the lights and the turn signals while the other driver gets through.

      • Levathian on 14/10/2018 - 14:13
        +10

        Also the other inconsiderate lot are the "traffic light texters". They're the 1st/2nd/3rd at the front and instead of paying attention and going as soon as the lights go green (so everyone behind can get through), they whip out their phone and start texting/checking facebook. Lights go green, they're in la la land and people start honking after a few seconds, after which Mr. Muppet takes a further 2-5s to look up, put phone away and move.. and voila, they get through and half the cars behind don't.

        • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 18:08
          +2

          What about those eating their breakfast on the way to work. I'm not talking about a McMuffin. One day at the lights this driver pulls up a bowl. and spoon of cereal. Then when she had to move off it went back on her lap. WTF. How do you explain that to the officer when you have an accident.

          • Caped Baldy on 16/10/2018 - 13:18

            @Melb69: Whereabouts do you live OP?

            • Melb69 on 16/10/2018 - 13:33

              @Caped Baldy: Melbourne. I drive from Moorabbin to Abbotsford daily. Nightmare today. Normally 45min today 1hr 30min

        • So lo on 17/10/2018 - 01:01

          The crazy thing is these d-bags have existed long before smartphones were a thing. One of my standout memories ~20 years ago was looking out the bus window to see a driver reading the (profanity) newspaper while driving in peak hour traffic in the CBD. Like full on newspaper with two outstretched hands almost completely blocking their front windshield. I wasn't nearly old enough to have a licence but I already knew that person shouldn't have one either.

  • ego22 on 14/10/2018 - 13:05
    +1

    not getting worse. just more people per capita to f*"#k up. and more crowded so it happens more often.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/10/2018 - 20:37
      +2

      More people per capita? You must be having a laugh.

  • elgrande on 14/10/2018 - 14:28
    +13

    I think they are getting better actually.

    As an example, in order to write this response I have moved into the left lane so that I could drive slower whilst writing.

    Joking BTW.

  • pegaxs on 14/10/2018 - 14:57
    +11
    • people that pull out in front of you from an intersection and you almost run into them, meanwhile, the road behind you is empty of all traffic…
    • IamEzza on 15/10/2018 - 16:24
      +2

      Then they proceed down the road at 15+km/h under the speed limit..

  • ribze1 on 14/10/2018 - 15:42
    +8

    Need some kind of 'RTA Enforcement' Officers on the road, like Highway Patrol but not to do with Speeding, just simple road rules but have powers to fine.

    When you cop a $300 fine you'll remember to indicate or not drive 40 in a 50 zone.

    • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 17:53
      +1

      That is a full time job.

      • ribze1 on 14/10/2018 - 21:41
        +2

        Would be revenue positive for the Gov't not a cost centre.

        • abb on 15/10/2018 - 09:17
          +4

          I'd do that job for a 10% cut. Would quit my day job in a second and be living in Point Piper in no time.

  • snivy on 14/10/2018 - 16:08

    Funny I was just thinking about it. I noticed many more cars neglected their rating indicators, even recently I was driving behind one that was practically zigzagging. Taxis are the worst since they just take sudden stop or turn, and seem to be immune to all kinds of honking. Tailgaters who go over the speed limit and dangerously overtake you afterwards, on a 60 zone.

    Maybe I noticed the stark differences because I just spent almost a month driving around Europe, particularly in Germany and regions around it, I noticed how the drivers were much nicer there. At one time a car nicely gave me a way to turn (even though he had the right) and I was so baffled that someone in the car with me commented; "You're so confused because nobody does to you that in Australia anymore?". That shows.

    • abuch47 on 14/10/2018 - 19:30
      +2

      People give way when they have right of way all the time in Australia. It's terrible to reinforce doing the wrong thing.

      I'd say its driving culture and infrastructure. American and western Europe have great road systems stopping you from interacting with others. Especially while traveling you only see the best parts as your not often sitting in peak hour or poorly designed roads networks as maps will take you away from them to reduce travel time.

    • Ughhh on 14/10/2018 - 20:18
      +1

      At one time a car nicely gave me a way to turn (even though he had the right)

      I've seen people do that here. Sometimes in the middle of merging or just in the middle of the road. Coming to a complete stop in busy traffic just to be a hero and let the car who is stuck behind a parked car in. This guy think's he's an angel, being safe and nice, but reality is he just caused a massive hazard behind him that Satan would be proud of.

      Being nice or being right by the books, doesn't always mean you're smart and safe.

  • bobbified on 14/10/2018 - 16:50

    Why care about all the other rules? They don't really matter because the cops only care about speeding.

    Just don't go over the speed limit and everyone will be fine. Because every km over the limit is a killer.

    • Yummy on 14/10/2018 - 17:07

      I want to live in Germany, coz speeding is safe there.

      PS: Mobile users are now in top chart of Copper's watch list.

  • hawkeye on 14/10/2018 - 16:54
    +6

    Stopping at a roundabout when there is no oncoming traffic.
    Slowing down on a freeway on ramp instead of merging at the flow of speed.

    • frostman on 15/10/2018 - 08:28

      Worse… I had another Mr Miyagi the other day, we both entered the round about wanting to exit on the 3rd exit, I'm driving behind then he suddenly brakes at the round about and gives way to a driver that's on his left exit.

  • Godric on 14/10/2018 - 16:56
    -3

    If people didn't tailgate others who'm are doing the speedlimit and didn't spam their highbeams, would be a better place

    • Yummy on 14/10/2018 - 17:11
      -2

      Others like to high beam me to warn that I uses high beam lights. But they didn't realized themselves that they drive a small/low car. I was tempted to high beam them back but then it would completely blinds em 100%.

      • pegaxs on 14/10/2018 - 18:02
        +7
        • 4WD owners that have illegal HID headlights or super bright white 8000k lights installed that are poorly adjusted and shine into other road users eyes, but live in denial and that other road users are the problem to then go on to bully other road users by flashing them with their 18,000 watts worth of LED light bars.
        • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 18:06

          Just move over and get their rego on the dash cam.

      • hunterhalo on 14/10/2018 - 18:37

        This one, hapoen a lot to me

      • mooseca on 15/10/2018 - 01:01

        You HAVE to high beam them back

      • abb on 15/10/2018 - 09:20
        +1

        If a lot of people are mistaking your lows for high, chances are that they're not aimed properly. (and/or maybe you have crazy high power bulbs)

        • Yummy on 15/10/2018 - 12:39
          -1

          Its at the lowest pointing setting and the $20 light bulbs are not even as bright as daylight version which would cost $40. I only notice the ones that beams me are small cars. And these are random incidents too.

  • Clear on 14/10/2018 - 16:59
    +12

    People who sit at 90-100km in the single double line lane and floor it to 120km once the overtake lanes come up.

    • abuch47 on 14/10/2018 - 19:33
      +2

      This is like 90% of people in my exp. It's not a race but please be consistent with your speeds. If you have to take windys slower than the signs and the people behind you bank up, let them pass when the overtaking lane comes up.

    • Levathian on 14/10/2018 - 21:38
      +1

      People who sit at 90 in the middle lane, so when you go to overtake at 100 they suddenly remember they have an accelerator too and go up to 100 to stop you from passing 🙄

      • Clear on 14/10/2018 - 21:41

        Yup it's so frustrating. I do 200km trips several times a week and it's super frustrating. I just want to get to where I need to be as quickly as possible. The trip stopped being scenic 200 trips ago.

  • p1 ama on 14/10/2018 - 18:51
    +3

    I think it's a couple of things, but the elephant in the room (that everyone seems to be sidestepping) is that drivers are just becoming worse as driving becomes more mainstream.

    You can say that about any other form of specialised skill. For example, are computer users getting worse over time? Yes, of course, because 30 years ago, you would only get a computer if you had a need for it and because they were clunky and so difficult to use sometimes, they required more technical knowledge to use. Sure, it's great that "user friendliness" has taken over, but opening the door to newcomers also means that there are people who don't really care about computers, but just want to use their computer for Facebook, emails and YouTube.

    The same thing can be said with cars and/or driving. A long time ago, you would only get a car if you were either rich (which meant you had someone drive it for you), or you really loved the mechanics of it all. Then cars started becoming more common and becoming family items. However, roads were less friendly, cars required more skills to drive and therefore, people still had to have some level of skills to drive them. Today, cars are so utilitarian that the majority of people who drive cars don't really care about them at all. They don't give a rat's ass about how a car works, what's good traffic flow or having any thought for other road users.

    What we sometimes fail to understand is that there are people out there who are so oblivious and in their own bubble that a car is just a means of getting to the supermarket and as long as they get there, that's okay. In my opinion, it's not that they are inherently selfish people, they are just oblivious and it matters more on the road than elsewhere. As somebody who is generally pretty busy, I do things pretty quickly. If I eat, I will eat as quickly as I can. If I drive, I will drive as quickly as I can. If I shop, I will shop as quickly as I can. However, there are people out there who don't live life that way, they will stroll around at their own leisurely pace, talking to their friends and sipping a latte. They don't want to hold people up, they just don't really realise they're in the way.

    That's the issue, really.

    • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 19:24
      +1

      I agree with your last paragraph. For some drivers as soon as they get in the car they think they are in their own world. Ill text, pick my nose, just drive at a causal pace 10kms below speed limit. I'm not harming anyone. I'm driving within the speed limit.(Which they are, but not really as to how movement of large number of cars through traffic it to work). People can over take. Image a 2 lane road and 2 drivers in a 100km zone driving at 80-90km side by side for kms onwards.

      Maybe we all just need the same attitude. NOT.

    • BobLim on 14/10/2018 - 21:30

      Or that their car is a 3 year lease so who cares how many other cars you damage in said supermarket carpark, because obviously their owners don't mind either so why bother with the paperwork and the hassle of admitting to it?

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 14/10/2018 - 19:04
    +3

    Off topic, but I honestly can't wait for self driving vehicles…

    Firstly, speed limits are ridiculous low. Sydney to Melbourne and the maximum is 110km/hr - drive any faster and they think you will kill people. These limits are 30 YEARS OLD, when my father, drove his shitty Datsun 120Y, 2 cylinder, 3 speed manual on those roads - I doubt his 120Y could even reach 3 digit speeds!

    Now, cars in today, are not only much more powerful (and efficient), they are 100x more safer than that shitty Datsun 120Y that my father drove in those days.

    Just returned from Europe and I was easily driving 140-190km/hr on their motorways. I would say 140-150km/hr is a decent speed, and anything else above that requires much more concentration and the right type of car (as winds can make it feel a little wobbly)

    Now, self driving vehicles? Why, because authorities think the slower the speeds, the safer it is. Total BS really. So if I can't drive my car - which is fast and very safe - higher than the speeds which I think are way too low, then self driving it is. Plus, being able to have your own "private" driver when your car picks you up, drops you off.

    • abuch47 on 14/10/2018 - 19:34

      +1 self driving electric weapons with a recliner.

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