Road Rules Rant - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 01:30:59 am
content: For those who have followed some of my comments, you've probably realised I'm a bit of a stickler for good driving habits. From what I've seen, the driving habits of the average citizen in New South Wales is rather average indeed. In the Australian Capital Territory, for some reason it's significantly worse.1. NOT GIVING WAYIs the concept of "if a car is coming, stop and wait" really that difficult for some people to grasp? Do they honestly not understand that a broken line at an intersection means "give way" and a solid line means "stop"? The big hint is the huge sign that actually has those words printed on them.2. NOT INDICATING INTENTIONSWhether it be changing lanes, at roundabouts or even in a car park --NEWS FLASH:Other drivers can't read your mind.3. MOBILE PHONESThis is just beyond the joke now. For almost as long as we've had mobile phones, we've had the "don't use them while driving" rule in Australia. Leave the damn things alone when you're driving a car. Your Facebook feed is not that important.4. POOR/NO LANE DISCIPLINEIn Australia, you must "keep left unless overtaking" where ever it is signposted as such or when the speed limit is over 80km/hr. So why on earth do pig-headed people still default to the right lane and just mosey along forcing others to make two lane changes just to get around them?5. NOT LOOKING AHEADYou'll often find these morons queued across intersections because they were too busy staring at the bumper of the car immediately in front of them rather than looking at what was happening ahead. This one ties also ties into the poor lane discipline and not giving way category, when they realise they are running out of lane and need to merge, disrupting the flow of traffic in the adjacent lane.Yes they seem rather minor offences, but this is the type of shit that causes those annoying minor collisions. It's also the reason I have to pay huge insurance premiums. I think that the focus on road safety craps on way too much about speed limits and doesn't look enough into what actually causes crashes. I recently drove in Victoria where speed cameras are absolutely everywhere and are not marked in any way, yet their driving ability hasn't improved.Ditch the demerit points system and have a three-strikes rule. Get caught doing the same thing three times in say ten years and your licence is gone.With mobile phone offences, Police need to start taking phones off drivers who continually offend (which they are legally allowed to do as "evidence", but very seldom does that happen). I'm sure a few days without their phone, people will learn pretty quickly.(And no, I'm not old, I'm just cranky.)

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 01:44:54 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 01:30:59 amI thought that 'confiscate and destroy' would be a good idea for this. Simply smash the phone and hand it back to the driver in a plastic bag.Too many near misses from tradies and mothers picking up their kids from school have made this into a joke.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 02:30:31 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on November 12, 2015, 02:20:36 amI don't think it's a matter of being grateful. People in Australia tend to treat driving as their right rather than a privilege that should be earned and worked for. There are people who hold unrestricted Australian driving licences who can't even read English -- How is that fair? I still pay the same amount for registration and insurance despite me being a far lower risk. The only concession I get is a half-price driving licence as I have a clean traffic record.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 02:31:33 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 01:30:59 amThis. It's not only drivers that can't read their minds, it's pedestrians as well. I was nearly run over the other day when a driver decided to swerve into the road I was crossing without indicators. They didn't even slow down first!

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 02:35:29 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on November 12, 2015, 02:20:36 amHa ha! When in India I noticed that size is everything. Trucks and Buses rule the road and everything else must give way to them. Pedestrians are the lowest form of life. Beware!

author: John_ITIC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 02:43:48 am
content: C'mon; we all know that there are no road rules in Australia!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 02:48:10 am
content: My pet hate is indicating right when going straight though the roundabout

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:36:31 am
content: People who don't know what this means:I've met more than one person that got into an argument with me that was absolutely convinced it just meant "headlights are on"And in the same token, people who drive with them on when it isn't warranted and/or don't dim them when they see you coming.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:41:19 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 01:30:59 amWell in the US, we don't use the broken line that I've seen, just the sign.For the North Americans:That means when you see that sign, and I'm exiting the highway, you STOP for me.I've had people drive right through the sign and honk at me!I've even hear people rant "I hate people who stop at Yield signs". IT'S WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IF ANOTHER CAR IS COMING!

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:43:42 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on November 12, 2015, 04:36:31 amI put people who use fog lights in lieu of headlights in that category.Maybe we can introduce a "Vehicle Awareness Program" for first-time offenders instead of an infringement notice. A course designed to teach people the basic operation of cars, what lights do what etc... You know... stuff that people with common sense find out before they drive a car.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:45:35 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 04:43:42 amYes, especially trucks or "utes" as you guys call them.

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:47:02 am
content: I also get quite annoyed by people who invent their own driving rules or completely disregard the existing ones.You post and a few of the others too, are a bit of a surprise to me. My wife and mother-in-law just came back from Australia, and since they stayed in Queensland, they got to visit several cities in that area. Their general opinion was that everyone drives by the book in Australia, and there seems to be speed traps in every centimeter of the road, so nobody would even drive above the speed limit for even a second.I guess that it's either (a) different in Queensland, or (b) no matter how bad it is in Australia, it's still much better than it is in Brazil.My wife's brother-in-law is Australian (I guess it's ok to say he's my BIL too), and he gets quite in a shock when he comes to Brazil, which makes me believe that option (b) above is more adequate.

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:54:51 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on November 12, 2015, 04:41:19 amThat is pretty much a universal sign, isn't it? In all of South America, the sign below means that you must give your right of way (which is, literally, Yield, but without the word).

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:58:50 am
content: Quote from: AlxDroidDev on November 12, 2015, 04:47:02 amSpeeding isn't as much of an issue here as the Government and "Road Safety" people make it out to be. You'll always have your idiots who run from Police and drive at excessive speeds, but in general, people drive to the conditions and maintain speed with the rest of the traffic (even if it's over the posted limit).Speed cameras vary from state to state. Like I mentioned in my original post Victoria is horrendous for them. They are everywhere, both fixed and mobile, and you have little to no warning before it's too late. In New South Wales however, all speed cameras (mobile and fixed) are sign posted well before the speed measurement itself is taken. The exception to that is Police radar or LIDAR, there are no signs, however Police have discretion when it comes to issuing tickets and there is no quota system as some people like to believe. On a freeway, most Police won't even stop you for an <=10km/hr over the limit.I have my views on speed cameras and that is I don't agree with them (there are few unique locations where they are warranted and work due to the design of the road etc...). I'd rather the money on the initial infrastructure, on-going maintenance and upgrades be poured back into the Police. A speed camera has no discretion and only detects one offence (speeding) at a fixed location. A Police officer is mobile, has discretion and can detect multiple offences at the same time (defective vehicles, unlicensed drivers, unregistered vehicles, no seatbelts, drink/drug drivers etc...) which sometimes leads to more serious charges and arrests. You see it in the news all the time, someone is stopped for a traffic offence which turns out they are transporting drugs or are wanted for major crimes.Curtin University in Western Australia wrote a paper on the fixed red light/speed cameras in 2012. They estimated that the initial outlay of one camera is $150,000 with $18,100 per year, per camera in maintenance, annual certification and data transmission costs (this doesn't include costs due to deliberate or crash damage or equipment failure). It's not cheap. But they make up for it in the amount of fines... ehemm... in the name of "Road Safety".In NSW they stopped calling them "Safety Cameras" and replaced all the signs with "Red Light & Speed Camera".

author: JoeB83
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 07:59:37 am
content: My pet peeve is when trying to pass a slower car, the slow car speeds up right as you switch lanes to pass. You get back behind the car and they slow down again, then attempt to pass again, etc. I don't know if it's an ego thing, a control thing, or the driver simply not paying attention.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 08:23:49 am
content: I hate people who "wave you through" even though they have the right of way.It's very kind of them, but that just creates confusion and hesitation. It also means you are asking me to make an illegal move.You have the right of way, just go. Road rules work when everyone follows them.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 08:29:19 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 04:58:50 amAnd some speed limits are just plain stupid. Super safe 4 lanes each way suburban arterial road with a divider gets 50kmh because it's in suburbia.Tiny single lane each way across a narrow bridge at the bottom a steep hills get 100kmh.Dumb

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 08:32:38 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 12, 2015, 08:29:19 amYep! Look at the M7. Beautiful piece of road and it's 100KM/hr where as other freeways are 110KM/hr. Why!?! Small difference I know but why not be consistent. Almost everyone sits at the "default freeway speed" of ~115KM/hr anyway.We also need to abolish the arbitrary speed limits for Learner and Provisional drivers (90 and 90/100KM/hr respectively). Why have different classes of driver travelling at different speeds? That creates more danger.

author: Tim F
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 08:48:29 am
content: wasn't there a study in Canada that concluded that the safest speed limit was one where 85% of road users felt it was too fast?Take for example the M1 in melbourne, there is a stretch of it about 15km out of the CBD where in light conditions the left lane used to be travelling about 95km/h, lane 2 100km/h, lane 3 105km/h and lane 4 110-120km/h. The posted limit is 100km/h, there were concrete barriers either side and no fixed speed cameras nor stationary highway patrol enforcing speed because that would result in them blocking the emergency lane. It used to be great to travel on that stretch of road because everyone stuck with the lane that was going a speed that they were comfortable with. Changing lanes was easy because of the speed differential between lanes and because people kept a safe distance between them and the car in front since they felt their lane was going neither too fast nor too slow.Now they have installed fixed speed cameras and all four lanes go 98km/h with everyone tailgating each other while having their eyes glued to the speedometer. Epic fail.

author: Gribo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 09:18:07 am
content: Here, drivers are out to kill you.No signaling at all, cutting in from the right (left for oz), trying to shove into the head of the que and generally being dickheads trying to save 5 seconds in an hour long traffic jam.Sometimes, however, karma does work .http://roadshamer.com/

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 09:20:57 am
content: Consider approaching two left turning streets. Why do most drivers signal to turn left too early, passing the first left street but turning left at the next street. It is ambiguous and source of collisions at the first street. But most drivers seem to have too low an IQ to understand such ambiguity might cause an accident.They are of the same mentality of dimwitted software programmers who write ambiguous identifiers in source code. Vexations to the spirit, and if I were Henry VIII - off with their heads!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 09:22:53 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 08:32:38 amAnd you pay for the privilege!QuoteI knew one learner who passed their driving test without being able to get out their own driveway. Some arescary.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 09:29:01 am
content: Quote from: JoeB83 on November 12, 2015, 07:59:37 amActually, I've look at this at length because it drives me *mental*. It's most often a subconscious thing and I've found the best way to break it is to make sure your closing speed makes it *very* obvious you are going to be faster than them. If you just pull out to overtake and slowly creep up then they get "dragged along" with you.I've actually done a number of logged tests on myself and I can prove that *I* do it too if I'm not paying attention. It's not intentional, it's just the act of another vehicle moving faster than you tends to make you lean on the go pedal more because you think you're going to slowly. The first thing I do these days when I spot a vehicle creeping up like that is check the speedo and tell myself a couple of times "hold your speed".Of course there are idiots that do it intentionally, but not as often as do it subconsciously. Plant your foot, pull a gap and they snap out of it and drop back to their old plod speed.As for red light/speed camera combos. More please. Anything to stop lunatic Perth drivers running reds.

author: Moshly
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 09:31:23 am
content: As a pedestrian, I hate the lazy drivers who don't indicate if they can not see any other moving vehicles.I was nearly hit because I thought a car was going straight, but it suddenly turned into the road I was crossing.Anyone thinking of coming to Melbourne and driving while here, please look up the road rules for 'Hook Turns' and rules relating to Trams. Every morning I stand at a bus stop in the city for around 10mins, and in that time nearly every day I see at least 1 sometimes up to 3 vehicles make illegal right turns. BTW this is the corner where the girl was run over by a garbage truck around 1 year ago, first pedestrian death in the CBD for 8 years, also amazing considering the number of pedestrians i see 'droneing along' on bookface or some other crap, totally oblivious to the surroundings.But one thing that pisses me off, is the a-holes that stop across intersections / railway gates. In Victoria the government is spending billions of dollars to bridge 140 railway crossings because morons have repeatedly stopped on the tracks, then a train comes and they are to dumb to get out of the car and they die. Its a simple rule of thumb, if your car can not fit on the other side, do not enter the intersection / rail crossingI watched a documentary on road safety a while back, and a road engineer said it was pointless improving the safety of the roads ! Why because, every time they made something safer, for example the arc size of an off ramp / width of road / distance to barriers etc... the traffic would just drive faster counteracting any of the improvements they had made. He then went on to say something like, the only way to make driving safer was to replace the driver air bags with a 6 inch spike, on every vehicle so drivers are forced to be careful.Here's where I learnt the road rules in primary school ->https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.929177,145.057772,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1s53007560!2e1!3e10!6s%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fstatic.panoramio.com%2Fphotos%2Fsmall%2F53007560.jpg!7i2048!8i1536Now it looks like its been closed down by the local council to be sold to developers for housing

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 09:49:14 am
content: Quote from: Moshly on November 12, 2015, 09:31:23 amWe have one of those near where my parents live. It's still there and operating. I remember having so much fun! Maybe we should get some of these idiotic drivers on their push bikes to ride along with the kids?

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 10:28:27 am
content: One rule few people know: If you drive any part of your car into painted traffic islands ("widened" double lines), you are automatically at fault in a collision, even if someone hits you from behind.Once at a busy intersection, the right turn lane was overfull with cars and I was at the back of the queue. There were cops behind me on the left but he could not proceed because I was blocking him off due to refusing to drive over the lines. Bad luck. If had touched the lines I risked being booked by him. I obeyed the law and he had nowhere to go. "Sorry officer, I obey the law, don't YOU?"Not long ago, I was driving to the airport on the freeway and there were roadworks to slow down to 40kph. But the government's contractors did not put in a sign to resume to 100kph after the roadworks, so I drove for several kilometres at 40kph until a 100 kph sign was encountered. The government might have been trying to fool people into paying fines. Bad luck. "Sorry officer, I obey the law, don't YOU?"Once a red light arrow for a right turn was stuck on. I refuse to turn right, else the red light camera would have had me booked. I could not move due to traffic. I stayed there for 45 minutes. There was chaos. Bad luck. I would have been fined and with the government handing out fines, you are guilty until proven innocent. "Sorry officer, I obey the law, don't YOU?"Why do I strictly obey the road rules? Both the state government and some local councils are involved in extortion. I have no trust or confidence in them. Some parking officers are nothing more than crooks dressed up in uniform.In 2012 the Victorian government reaped millions of dollars by knowingly cheating drivers at Tullamarine Airport. They ran the scam for several months, until the public found out when a motorist (an engineer) proved it by running some tests, and there was hell to pay. The state government was red faced and they had no excuse for their appalling racket. They were forced to refund many thousands of fines, but they did not compensate any victims who lost their job after losing 12 demerit points. If they were a private citizen or a company, there would have been jail time. For some reason no one went to jail, or for that matter even lost their job.The only thing we can do is OBEY THE RULES with dead accuracy to avoid being ripped off. But even then, they can get you. Like putting up 2 hour parking limit signs in a previously all day parking zone WHILE YOU ARE PARKED, and then fining you for staying more than 2 hours. A scum act of extortion by the Prahran council as it was then called.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 10:47:45 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on November 12, 2015, 10:28:27 amNot actually true. There are circumstances where you are you're legally allowed to cross a solid line and drive on a painted traffic island. For example under Rules 138 and 139 ARR. However in the case of a turn lane immediately after the island, the vehicle in the traffic island must give way to a vehicle who is entering the turn lane (Rule 85 ARR).If someone hits you from behind, THEY are committing an offence by not keeping a safe distance. That said, they can also be two wrongs which means both drivers get a ticket.No one is "automatically" at fault in any collision. The exact circumstances need to be investigated by either Police of the insurance companies to determine who was at fault. There can be more than one party at fault.Quote from: VK3DRB on November 12, 2015, 10:28:27 amIf any emergency vehicle is proceeding under lights and/or siren, you must move out of the lane (even if it causes you to break another road rule). The key point is you may only do so if it's safe. If you fail to do so, that's an offence in itself.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 10:56:09 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 10:47:45 amI visited the Glen Waverley police station in Victoria and queried an officer about this. He told me it is illegal to drive over one of those islands. He told me clearly that if someone hits you from behind and you are in one of those islands, you are automatically in the wrong as far as insurance goes. This is Victoria, but it might be different where you live.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 11:01:05 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on November 12, 2015, 10:56:09 amI would say he's wrong (even his reasoning is conflicting, considering now the driver that hit the other is also on the painted island). There is a reason why they call it theAustralian Road Rules. They are a common set of rules which apply in every state and territory. Occasionally you will have rules added which are specific to a particular state but they are clearly marked as being so. Even "Hook Turns" are in the common set of rules (even though we don't use them in NSW to my knowledge? I could be wrong).An example of a 'state only' rule would be Rule 24-1 NSW Rule: Speed Limits for Learner and Provisional Licence Holders.Rules 138 and 139 are common, even in Victoria:http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_reg/rsrr2009208/s138.htmlBut that's OK, Police are only human and they make mistakes like the rest of us! :-)Insurance companies will always side with legislation, even if it conflicts with a Police report or one officer's opinion. The law is the law and if it allows you to do something, then you can't be penalised for doing so.If you're ever bored one day, have a read of the whole set of rules. I've even surprised myself. For example, did you know you aren't allowed to make a U-turn at traffic lights unless there is a sign permitting you to do so? The absence of a "No U-turn" sign doesn't automatically make it legal either.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 11:06:39 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on November 12, 2015, 10:56:09 amI've had cops tell me they can legally stop me filming them, confiscate my phone, enter my home just because they want to etc. They can't but they think they can. They've also told me it's not their responsibility to deal with cars parked on the pavement or across a street blocking it for everybody which also isn't true. I think you'd be surprised how many don't actually know the law or just make up whatever lets them throw their weight around or avoid their job. Ask them exactly which law backs up their claim and check it yourself. Never trust a copper, no matter which country you're in.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 11:12:16 am
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on November 12, 2015, 11:06:39 amThat just sounds like poor customer service to me! It's a real shame because it makes the majority look bad. I don't know anything about UK laws but in Australia in some circumstances phones can be confiscated and there are powers of entry without requiring a warrant (even forcibly). But that's a whole other topic.It's impossible to know every law inside out. You'll find a lot of Police tend to "specialise" in what interests them. For example traffic, you'll find those who love it and are quite knowledgeable, then there are others who hate giving tickets. My suggestion is if you don't actually know something, look it up. There is no shame in telling someone you'll double check or you'll get back to them with the correct answer. Doesn't matter what profession you might be in. I've learnt never to just take advice on face value, I'll always double-check myself. More often than not I find it's either wrong or there is more to it.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 11:22:55 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 11:12:16 amI should have probably qualified that by adding in the situation at hand lol. Of course there are times when they could confiscate my phone but not just because I filmed them doing something way beyond acceptable and they didn't like it, and neither can they forcibly enter my home for that reason.And I'll admit most of my run ins with the police have been good, including the visit to deal with that one. But you can't tell just by looking at them who's a good cop and who's just a member of the biggest local gang, and unfortunately negative experiences stick with you stronger than positive ones :/

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 11:54:23 am
content: I grew up in New York. Our road rules rants are a bit different:1) WTF, get out of the wayWhat are you doing?? Get your stupid hot dog later. WTF?! Get out of the way!!2) Look at this guy...must be from Jersey3) Why you breaking my balls?Don't you see all the frickin' cars in front of me? You honk one more time, I'm triple parking right here and grabbing a hot dog. Why you breaking my balls??!?4) Holy crap, the light's green....GO!!!!!You waiting for an invitation? There are, like, 100 billion people and cars around here. Get your foot off the brake and f***ing GO when that light turns green because there's no one going to make a nice little hole for your stupid car. No, the cops aren't going to give you a ticket for blocking the intersection, but if you just sit there like an idiot you may get one for being a dweeb.Hurry up with my hot dogHey buddy, the light's about to turn green so can you hurry up with that hot dog. Here, keep the change, just speed it up a bit....oh crap. "Yeah pal, keep honkin'...Don't you see me getting a dog here?? Why you breaking my balls??"

author: ludzinc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 11:54:50 am
content: 'Right of Way' is a myth.You won't find that phrase in any Australian road rules. The over-riding rule is to always Proceed with Caution.How do I know this? Made a dumb mistake where I had 'the right of way' and ended up in traffic school to avoid a dangerous driving charge.....

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 12:00:08 pm
content: Quote from: ludzinc on November 12, 2015, 11:54:50 amWhat!? I think the road rules make it quite clear on who has the right of way and who doesn't. I can't think of a single situation where two drivers BOTH have right of way at the same time.Negligent driving is one thing, but to be charged with 'Drive in a Manner Dangerous' you really must have stuffed up big time.

author: djQUAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 12:32:33 pm
content: You guys are probably having it easy compared to what we have here.A high percentage of drivers (mostly public vehicles) have a licence because of giving bribes. A lot don't even know how to read or write not to mention traffic rules.Traffic enforcers are as what the name implies. They enforce the traffic jam. Some even don't know the rules so they invent traffic violations so they can get bribe from you when it is meal time or when they are hungry.We have regular emissions testing during vehicle registration but there are random traffic stops where if you drive a truck or diesel vehicle, they will stop you and they will operate your car and mash the accelerator for maximum smoke. Then they'll ask for a bribe. But they do not stop buses that smoke so much that you can't see anything and let them go simply because the bus company has already bribed them in advance.Tricycles and pedicabs (bikes with side cars for ferrying passengers for public transpo) mesh in with the heavy traffic and even go against the flow of traffic simply because they are never ticketed. Simply because the enforcers could not get a bribe from them. Or their favorite line"we are only working".Giving way is an unknown concept here. If there is an opening no matter how small, stick your car in it. Doesn't matter if you have to go to the shoulder or even on the grass so long as you get ahead of the other guy. Also don't mind the intersection just block it even if the light is turning red. Falling in line to merge? screw that. go to the shoulder and cut in to the line.Yeah, honking is a way of life and keeping your high beam on is the way of driving here.Because of all that, I installed an onboard air system and train horns on my car for those inattentive or drivers that speed up when you signal to go into their lane. For those that drive with their high beams on (and LED bars turned on even in well lit and full of other cars) heading my way, I also have a 240W LED lightbar on the roof for them. For the tailgaters that follow me with their high beams on, I also have a high power LED array at the back I made just for them.

author: Gribo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 01:16:07 pm
content: QuoteSadly, those back lights are illegal here..

author: djQUAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 01:34:22 pm
content: Quote from: Gribo on November 12, 2015, 01:16:07 pm@$$holes here also use LED bars pointed back and lit up for no reason. I replaced my Rear fog lamp and used high power red LEDs for it with integral lenses from DLP projectors.But I use them only on those that deserve them and not keeping them on for no reason.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 01:42:46 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 01:30:59 amI could write the same rant about Belgian drivers.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 02:39:20 pm
content: Quote from: djQUAN on November 12, 2015, 12:32:33 pmI know very little about the Philippines, save for the wonderous writings of this chap, met him a couple of times when he came over to London. Here's his tale on how to get a licence.http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=43870Quote from: nctnico on November 12, 2015, 01:42:46 pmI use to go out with a Belgian lass, rarely have I been so consistently scared as a passenger.

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 03:00:48 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on November 12, 2015, 11:54:23 amIn western New York, where I lived as an exchange student, it was the "Ohio drivers". Calling someone over there an "Ohio driver" was a serious offense!

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 03:09:53 pm
content: In Illinois, the only time that you, by law, have the right-of-way is when you are the guest of honor in a funeral procession.The rest of the traffic law tells you when to yield the right-of-way.I learned this in a post-graduate traffic course, courtesy of the county of Cook.

author: djQUAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 03:48:31 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on November 12, 2015, 02:39:20 pmTL;DR but the lines I skimmed through is bang on.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 04:25:02 pm
content: Quote from: Moshly on November 12, 2015, 09:31:23 amTrue, and the same goes for air travel:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigation_paradox

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 05:19:14 pm
content: The US is a big country, with widely varied driving behavior. Almost everything mentioned above is seen somewhere in the states. Where I am two of my bigger peeves relate to passing behavior.1. In mountainous areas roads are often two lane. Passing is limited by pavement striping to either the occasional straight sections or places where a third lane has been added just for the purpose of letting slower traffic pass. You often find people driving very slowly and cautiously in the areas where passing is not allowed, but at a passing zone it becomes a drag race. You have to have a high powered vehicle, a lead foot and no regard for speed limits to pass someone in the areas allowed. Of course as soon as the passing area is gone the brakes come on and it is back to well below posted speed limits.2. On interstates away from cities there are usually two lanes of traffic in each direction. Heavy trucks (lorries?) tend to drive somewhat more slowly, particularly in uphill sections of the road. There is a huge class of people who apparently feel it is unsafe to pass a relative speeds over 1 or 2 miles an hour. So a huge line of traffic builds behind them as they inch their way past a long, often double or even triple trailered truck. This is related to the behavior of the trucks themselves where often a truck wishes to travel a fraction of a mph faster than the one in front and takes several miles to achieve a pass.

author: kingofkya
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 06:05:49 pm
content: Quote from: JoeB83 on November 12, 2015, 07:59:37 amProbably all of the above.And the best menovor is when you use your turn signals and the sports car or big stupid truck(more often than not) speeds up so you have to merge behind them. Even more fun when it starts a chain reaction.I guess that why number 2 happens all the time.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 06:49:02 pm
content: Quote from: DrGeoff on November 12, 2015, 01:44:54 amCell phones (and other wireless personal gadgets) are bad news on film/TV production locations, also. The RF interferes with wireless production gear (including many makes/models of wireless mics), the ring-tone sound ruins takes, and even when silent, they distract the crew from their jobs.The rumor is that one famous Hollywood director has his assistant carry a claw-hammer and nails for him. If an offending gadget is discovered, the director confiscates the device and literally nails it to the nearest door-frame or fence-post. As both a punishment and a warning to the rest of the crew.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2015, 09:05:21 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 10:47:45 amQUESTION/EXAMPLE-that I see every day...Freeway on ramp or off ramp.Hormone or caffeine overloaded driver - following my block of traffic that absolutely has to get into, or out of the freeway running lanes before anyone else... He leaps around the merging traffic (crossing over the solid/striped lane separators before they end) so he can get in front of one or two preceding cars... into exactly the same freeway traffic flow.By the above statement, the side-to-side collision that he causes is half to blame on those innocent drivers that stayed in their lane, merging correctly...?

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 12:57:57 am
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on November 12, 2015, 11:54:23 amI'm a Jersey boy myself but have been to the city many times--too trueQuote from: CatalinaWOW on November 12, 2015, 05:19:14 pmNot just in mountainous areas, this happens here in flat Florida. However, it is no longer an issue as the company van is now GPS tracked for speed, among other things.Quote from: kingofkya on November 12, 2015, 06:05:49 pmNope, they're just an ass hat, nothing more, nothing less.

author: jhalar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 02:11:00 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 01:30:59 amI was driving behind a Jeep 4WD this morning on my way to work. The 4WD driver probably didn't like the bends in this single lane suburban road and just kept going straight crossing the middle line many times.All while there was traffic coming towards us on the other side of the road and kids in the back seat.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 02:15:40 pm
content: Quote from: jhalar on November 13, 2015, 02:11:00 amEnough said.The same poor driving style seems to apply to drivers of Subaru's, Holden Utes and Ford's in AU.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 04:14:35 pm
content: Her it is a Hiace, Quantam or GWM, generally with a set of windows full of terrified passengers. The most common item on the morning and afternoon traffic report is always something "involving a minibus taxi" which beats out broken traffic signals by far.

author: AndreasF
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 04:31:41 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 12, 2015, 01:30:59 amI agree with all points, though #5 is sometimes taken to extremes over here: when there are signs that advice that one lane ahead is going to be closed and vehicles need to merge, almost all drivers do it right away, even if the lane merge isn't for several hundred yards ahead and everyone is already going super slow because of rush hour traffic. So instead of driving (slowly) on both lanes up to the merge point and then merging via the "zipper" principle, very valuable road space is being wasted than would be necessary. In those situations I am often one of the few that stay in the lane that is closing, passing lots of cars, with them probably thinking "what an a-hole".Regarding #4, this video made my day some time ago (BAD LANGUAGE WARNING):

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 04:53:54 pm
content: Quote from: jhalar on November 13, 2015, 02:11:00 amI always considered lane discipline to mean driving in the correct lane on a multi-lane road - for instance, in the US at least, don't toddle along at 5 under in the extreme left lane on the freeway - the rule issupposedto be "keep right except to pass". Far too often it seems that you get someone who gets into the fast lane then tools along slower than the prevailing traffic speed, completely oblivious to the backup behind them and the many cars passing them (potentially illegally) on the right. One would think that after the fourth or fifth car passed on the right while giving you the hairy eyeball, then immediately pulled back in front of you and accelerated away a little light bulb would go on in your head and you'd realize that you should be at least one lane over from where you are, but it seems far too many folks drive HUA nowadays.The Jeep driver sounds more like a friend of mine (who is somewhat frightening to ride with) who seems to like his half of the road in the middle, and drifts across the center lane frequently.Nothing bad ever comes of it and he corrects when there's oncoming traffic, but I still cringe when in the right seat with him!-Pat

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2015, 06:05:10 pm
content: You mean like the 2 today. No 1 is in the right lane of the 4 lane road, and wants to go take the left turn 10m in front, so blithely turns across all the traffic to make her turn, all the while yakking on the phone glued to her ear. No 2 did precisely the opposite, turning right from the left lane. All a normal thing.Then there was the accident outside a few weeks ago, turned left 50m before the corner, at high speed. the boulder wall was totally undamaged, though the VW looked like a pretzel after the tow truck had dragged it from the concrete bollard it finally landed on.Then there was the accident a decade ago where the mini bus taxi did the usual drive through the red light at speed, and hit a brand new Porsche Cayenne 4S on the drivers door. Porsche stopped 50m down the road, and the taxi went through a plate glass window into the shop below. Driver did a runner leaving the injured passengers behind, but came back later pretending to look, but was arrested after one of the passengers pointed him out to the police. Driver of the Porsche was uninjured aside from scratches from glass, those 14 airbags and pyro tensioners along with the body did protect him, though the vehicle was a write off as it was bent like a banana. Driver's door still would open and latch, pretty impressive as it was pushed about 5cm into the passenger area.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 10:28:21 am
content: Quote from: AcHmed99 on November 12, 2015, 05:42:38 pmI got a ticket a few months back (in Texas where I live) for just that. The cop told me I wasn't allowed to speed to pass someone. Basically if I have to speed in order to pass them, then they are going fast enough and I didn't need to pass them. It was an undivided highway and the speed limit was around 60mph (or 100 metric miles) The person was going around 45 and I had been behind them for a while, waiting for the no passing line to finish.

author: gildasd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 09:54:44 pm
content: L platers (or simililar) that hog your bumper because "they" know how to drive, and "you" don't.Usually in heavy rain, going at 75 in a 90 zone because you started to feel the onset of aquaplaning at 80. And yeah the rule here is that in heavy rain /reduced visibility, you must reduced speed. So F**K you and your stupid high beam signals.And don't get me started about wankers that swerve for miles all over two lanes because "they are special thus can use their smartphone and drive"...

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 11:09:40 pm
content: Quote from: Stonent on November 12, 2015, 04:36:31 amOh. What a nice looking 5 input AND symbol!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 08:41:31 am
content: Quote from: gildasd on November 14, 2015, 09:54:44 pmLet them pass, and use a dashcam to get the inevitable accident down to show the insurer or the investigator/coroner.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2015, 12:34:23 am
content: Most guys watch James Bond movies for the girls, but I watch for the car-mounted weapons that can hit a tailgater.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2015, 12:37:03 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on November 16, 2015, 12:34:23 amMore than once I've had my wife give me permission to strap forward and rear facing potato cannons to my roof racks.

author: gildasd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2015, 05:53:35 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on November 15, 2015, 08:41:31 amNarrow roads here make that hard sometimes, I try to, but refuse to put myself at risk or do something illegal to do so.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 05:50:01 am
content: So I've had my rant on another thread and realised that all this ranting and raving about how badly people drive really isn't helping anyone understand the rules any better. So forgive me for starting another car/traffic related thread (last time, I promise). Here is my short list of common road rules that people frequently interpret incorrectly or simply take what others tell them as being correct.These areAustralianRoad Rules (ARR) and apply to every state and territory down under (with the exception of 298-1). They don't include the entire wording of the law so I encourage you to look up the section for a complete understanding of the rule as there are some exceptions and circumstances which aren't discussed here. These apply to the majority of roads in Australia.1. - Giving Way at RoundaboutsWRONG: You must give way to your right at a roundabout.RIGHT: You must give way to any vehicle in the roundabout (regardless of which direction they entered or are approaching from).ARR S.114(1)2. - Use of Mobile Phones while drivingWRONG: When stopped at a set of traffic lights, you can use your phone as you aren't moving.RIGHT: You must not use a mobile phone whilst the vehicle is moving, or is stationary but not parked.ARR S.300(1)3. - U-turns at Traffic LightsWRONG: You can make a U-turn at any set of traffic lights unless there is a sign prohibiting U-turns.RIGHT: You must not make a U-turn at traffic lights unless there is a "U-turn Permitted" sign at the intersection. The absence of a "U-turn not permitted" sign does not change this rule.ARR S.404. - Approaching Yellow Traffic LightsWRONG: I can continue through a yellow traffic light if time permits me to make the line before the turns red.RIGHT: You must stop a yellow traffic light if you can stop safely.ARR S.575. - Proceeding through traffic lights which are not functioning or blacked outWRONG: You can continue with the flow of traffic. It's up to the other people waiting to look for a safe gap in traffic.RIGHT: You must STOP if there is a 'traffic light stop sign' at that intersection and comply with Rule 67.ARR S.63(2)6. - Use of Vehicle HornsWRONG: I can sound my car horn to say "goodbye" to someone as I'm leaving or because someone did the wrong thing.RIGHT: You may only use a horn to warn other road users or animals of the approach or position of your vehicle and it'snecessaryto do so.ARR S.2247. - Use of Fog Lights/Spot Lights/Driving Lights other than HeadlightsWRONG: It's OK to use my driving lights because they "aren't really" fog lights.RIGHT: You must not useanylight to dazzle, or in a way that is likely to dazzle another road user.ARR S.2198. - Open Alcohol Containers in Private VehiclesWRONG: My passengers must not drink alcohol while I'm driving as it's illegal to have open alcohol in the car.RIGHT: Open alcohol is not prohibited by any law, however the driver must not consume alcohol while driving (regardless of their breath/blood alcohol concentration). This legislation does not apply to passengers.ARR S.298-1 (NSW Rule)9. - Eating/Drinking/Smoking/Applying Lipstick while drivingWRONG: These is no law that says I can't do "blah" while driving, so it's OK.RIGHT: Whilst there is no law specifically prohibiting any of the above, you must only drive a vehicle if you haveproper controlof that vehicle. (Driving with your elbows while trying to light a cigarette is not "proper control".)ARR S.29710. - Keeping Left Unless OvertakingWRONG: I can always drive in the right lane as long as there is no sign stating otherwise.RIGHT: You must always keep left unless overtaking where the speed limit is over 80KM/hour (whether or not there is a "Keep left unless overtaking" signARR S.130

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 06:01:17 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 23, 2015, 05:50:01 amWe didn't need another thread.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 06:02:28 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 23, 2015, 06:01:17 amFurry muff.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 06:43:12 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 23, 2015, 06:02:28 amThat must mean something different in Australia than it does here.....

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 07:10:10 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on November 23, 2015, 06:43:12 amNo, it's the same.. it just also works as an amusing rhyming slang.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 08:21:22 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on November 23, 2015, 06:43:12 amFurry Muff = Fair Enough;-)

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 08:29:26 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 23, 2015, 08:21:22 amFairy Nuff is a character from a children's story.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 08:36:33 am
content: Quote from: coppice on November 23, 2015, 08:29:26 amHow unfortunate. A "nuff nuff" means something in Australia toohttp://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nuff-nuff

author: gildasd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 03:04:11 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 23, 2015, 08:36:33 amAnything means anything in Australian.That's one of the reasons I love listening to Ozzies, even when they argue, it's great.Kiwis are even better, just ask one how to polish your deck.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 05:43:34 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 23, 2015, 08:21:22 amAha, of course (slaps forehead). Very good!

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2015, 03:22:04 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 23, 2015, 05:50:01 amI'll compare them to local rules where I live.1. Yielding at a traffic circleThey aren't nearly as common in the US as they are in other parts of the world, however they seem to have a Yield sign that I've seen.2. Use of phones while driving.Those laws are usually local. However I've not seen a law that says you can't use them when not moving. (Though I'm sure it exists somewhere)3. U Turns at traffic lightsFrom what I've seen, it usually is permitted unless the sign says otherwise. (Based on local rules) but I have seen some cities that specifically prohibit u-turns.4. Approaching yellow lightsI think the way I've heard it is the cop will not stop you if the light turns red after it is beyond your vision5. Non functioning lightsI think you have to treat a non functioning light like a stop sign.6. Use of hornsI don't think I've ever seen any rules against horn usage, but I think there probably should be...7. Use of other lightsI think that's pretty much the same here8. Open alcohol.In the 1980s in Texas it was still legal to drink and drive as long as you were not drunk. So it was common that you could leave work get a pint at a drive through "beer barn" and drink it on the way home.The law was changed that any open container of alcohol in the interior of the car is illegal. I think you can put it in the trunk of the car legally. If you leave a restaurant and take the bottle of wine with you, they will sometimes wrap tape around the cork so you can't open it. In those cases, the bottle is considered sealed again.9. Eating/drinking/smokingI think as long as you're not driving poorly as a result of it, it's legal.10. Staying in the lane unless overtaking.That law varies quite a bit. In some places, it is law that you do so, in others, it may only be illegal if there is a sign that says so.