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Driving in Melbourne - WTF?

kiwicon

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Have had this sitting in my hotmail account ' dated 2002' - feel free to take out Auckland and insert your own city..

Subject: Basic Rules for Driving in Auckland

1. Turn signals will give away your next move. A real Auckland driver
never uses them. In addition, most new cars sold in the
Auckland do not have indicators as they are an optional extra.

2. Under no circumstances should you leave a safe distance
between you and the car in front of you, or somebody else will fill in that
space putting you in an even more dangerous situation.

3. Crossing two or more lanes in a single lane-change is
considered "going with the flow."

4. The faster you drive through a red light, the smaller the
chance you have of getting hit.


5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive
bodywork. The other guy doesn't have anything to lose.

6. Braking is to be done as hard and as late as possible to
ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a nice, relaxing foot massage as the
brake pedal pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to
stretch your legs.

7. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as
suggestions and are apparently not enforceable in the metro area during rush hour.

8. Please remember that there is no such thing as a shortcut
during rush-hour traffic in Auckland.

9. Always SLOW down and rubber-neck when you see an accident
or even someone changing a tyre.

10. Everybody thinks their vehicle is better than yours,
especially 4WD drivers.

11. Learn to swerve abruptly. Auckland is the home of
High-Speed Slalom Driving thanks to Auckland Transport and the Department of
Main Roads, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers'
reflexes and keep them on their toes.

12. It is traditional in Auckland to honk your horn at cars
that don't move the instant the light changes.

13. Seeking eye contact with another driver revokes your
right of way.

14. Never take a green light at face value. Always look
right and left before proceeding.

15. Remember that the goal of every Auckland driver is to
get there first, by whatever means necessary.

16. Real Auckland women drivers can put on pantyhose and
apply eye makeup at 75 k/ph in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

17. Real Auckland men drivers can remove pantyhose and a bra
at 75 k/ph in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

18. Heavy fog and rain are no reasons to change any of the
previously listed rules. These weather conditions are God's way
ensuring a natural selection process for body shops, junkyards,
and new vehicle sales.

19. There is a common held belief in Auckland that high
speed tailgating in heavy traffic reduces petrol consumption as you
get sucked along in the slipstream of the car in front.

20. It's OK to cut off fully loaded semi-trailers, road
trains and buses because they have brakes.

21. It is an essential duty of the driver to preserve the
life of his passengers. Hence no matter how much of an inconvenience it
may be, always find a detour around K Road in Auckland.

22. Always anticipate oncoming traffic while driving down a
one way street.

23. It's OK when driving in Aucklands Western and Southern
suburbs to air your grievances at bad drivers by giving the "one finger salute"
while screaming out "ar$ehole". But it is imperative you are driving a turbo
charged 5 litre V8 with a crow bar in your lap.
 

Wats_in_a_name

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Have to agree with what others are saying about Qld drivers. Granted there are plenty of home grown sh#t drivers in Victoria but nearly every single car I see in Melbourne with a Qld number plate is a sh#t driver. Either travelling 10 to 20kms below the limit or don't know how to keep reasonable distance or change lanes. Also agree with what others say about the West Gate and Monash. There is a crash nearly every single day without fail that often causes havoc on surrounding roads as well with people trying to divert. Too many people driving who shouldn't be I reckon.
 

mumsvx

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I used to be a motorcycle courier in Melbs from the early 90's for 20 years. Before speed cameras and citystink. We were cowboys on Iron Steeds. I feel for you in your 4 wheel nightmare. And they're doing some works now on the Westgate that'll #### things up even more. Do you have a PT option (not that it's awesome)? I'm in country now and the last trip I did to Melbs there was a stack on the Westgate so I went via South Melbs through Footscray to Spotswood. It took 90 minutes, I so glad I have a crackin' sound system. And patience. Unwarranted advice: Bring your skill-set to the country. The end. TL;DR Bring your skill-set to the country.
 
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ya mum!
Would absolutely move to the country in a heartbeat. Problem: Jobs.
 

Wats_in_a_name

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I used to be a motorcycle courier in Melbs from the early 90's for 20 years. Before speed cameras and citystink. We were cowboys on Iron Steeds. I feel for you in your 4 wheel nightmare. And they're doing some works now on the Westgate that'll #### things up even more. Do you have a PT option (not that it's awesome)? I'm in country now and the last trip I did to Melbs there was a stack on the Westgate so I went via South Melbs through Footscray to Spotswood. It took 90 minutes, I so glad I have a crackin' sound system. And patience. Unwarranted advice: Bring your skill-set to the country. The end. TL;DR Bring your skill-set to the country.

Speaking for myself I actually catch PT for my daily commuting although others might not have that option depending on where they live. That being said there's that many drivers out there who I encounter on the weekend or after hours who just should not have a licence I reckon. Living in the country definitely has it's merits if there are the jobs available although for me personally I like the house I have and don't want to leave the city I was born in.
 

Drawnnite

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Would absolutely move to the country in a heartbeat. Problem: Jobs.

very true.
would also be willing to move further into the country if it wasn't for this exact reason.

mind you ive worked all over the state (all the way up to Mildura even), and unfortunately the main bases for companies is around Melbourne.
 

Smitty

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.....

But the point was the traffic is better. Except on certain roads, but at least it doesn't take hours to get somewhere..

Brisvegas holds how many? Melb population is now 5 million (and growing)


ps... you tried a run from Brisbane airport to Southport on a sunny Saturday morning say about 11ish?
expect to make Southport well after lunchtime (took me 2 3/4hrs earlier this year and there were no accidents I heard of on the radio)
 

sleepa

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ps... you tried a run from Brisbane airport to Southport on a sunny Saturday morning say about 11ish?
expect to make Southport well after lunchtime (took me 2 3/4hrs earlier this year and there were no accidents I heard of on the radio)

Can't say I have. But I hardly ever go to the Gold Coast as that always seems to be congested, also I have no need as would much prefer to head north.
And they really do need a freeway through Brisbane as all the roads seem to end up in the CBD. That would cut the time to drive through it dramatically.

Brisvegas holds how many? Melb population is now 5 million (and growing)

Wasn't saying the reasons behind it :) Obviously Melbourne has more people, but Melbourne is massively spread out as well.
I tend to drive in different areas of Brisbane at different times and days so am basing it on my experience. After about 3pm there will be traffic.
And sometimes it will stop for a bit, but in my opinion it still isn't as bad a Melbourne was.
 

Calaber

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Geography plays a part in traffic flows too. Melbourne is spread around a very large bay and the roads have to flow around the bay while crossing the city. This limits the number of alternative routes and you basically can't bypass the CBD traffic.

Brisbane is bisected by a river and, like Sydney you have lots of traffic funnelling into a few crossing points.

As for Sydney. Well, the biggest city has a huge harbour and only four crossing points. Two of them use the same approach roads and a traffic jam on the Bradfield Highway will beat any othe city in Oz you care to name.

And the drivers are crap too. Especially the Asians and the migrant taxi drivers.
 
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