Jeremy Clarkson should try driving in Adelaide
Posted on Wednesday 30th May 2007
Earlier this year the aforementioned motoring journalist complained about the driving behaviour of other motorists. If he thinks the standard of motoring is bad on British A-roads, a drive here would undoubtedly result in a torrent of superlatives.
Adelaide drivers are some of the worst I have ever seen for the following reasons:
- Reversing is a skill that hasn’t caught on here. Parallel-parking isn’t in the local driving test, and most of the reversing I’ve seen here is abysmal, especially in car-parks.
- People don’t seem to know where the corners of their car are. This is exemplified by some scary near misses by other cars maneouvring around the hospital carpark.
- When passing a parked car, the drivers here allow a huge gap on the left. They even do this if it means breaching the median or swerving into a neighbouring lane, often without warning. I was told they are trained to do this in case the occupant of that parked car opens their door without warning. Surely encouraging motorists to inconvenience other cars is not the solution. Is it too much to expect people to make sure they aren’t opening a car door in front of oncoming traffic?
- Possibly the worst habit here is the opposite swerve demonstrated by lazy drivers turning into a side road. If they are turning left, before making the turn they first swerve to the right. Granted this makes the turn less sharp, but often the car will cross the median or enter another lane to do this. On many occasions I have been scared by a car coming in the other direction entering my carriageway before turning left. If they need to make this manoeuvre it implies they haven’t slowed down sufficiently before making the turn. It’s very dangerous and entirely unnecessary. In the UK it is a “Fail” offence in the driving test.
- Many people either drive half-asleep or simply don’t pay attention. If I am driving on a multilane road and move past a slower vehicle, the driver often speeds up and may even overtake me, before I catch up with them a minute later as their speed drifts down again. The whole time I would have maintained the same speed. A friend back home explained this to me: “You aren’t paying attention, but when someone goes to overtake you get competitive and speed up”. No wonder so many people get speeding tickets.
- Anticipation isn’t an Adelaide forte. I have nearly rear-ended a couple of drivers who, without warning, suddenly pile on their brakes, and only then indicate, nanoseconds before making a turn. It also happens in the middle of junctions, when some seem to get scared and brake sharply when half-way through that junction, often for no apparent reason.
I’m being far more careful than I was in Leicester, especially after being smashed into by that dozy eejit last month.
Hi Ric it just shows that they have a bloody gud brit
that can drive out there
I come from Sydney and have been in Adelaide for a number of years. I agree Adelaide drivers are the worst in Oz. Besides what has been mentioned I like the idea of when you get a green light you go ” oh the light is green - must put car into gear - then slowly move off”. This leads to a couple of cars through on a green. Now the amber that when we get most thorough - keep going through even if the light turns red when you are in the middle of the intersection. Of course anyone wanting to turn right must wait until oncoming traffic is dead still before turning - even though it is through a red light. It is dangerous and a wonder there are not more accidents.
I cannot understand the passing the parked car process, the lane is not ususally wide enough to allow a parked car with a passing car staying in the lane. The lanes are not wide enough in a lot of cases. Hence cars just move into the other lane usually without any warning or indicators. When I mentioned it to police - the comment was “we have some strange driving habits in Adelaide”. Never indicate to move in front of someone they will see that and move up to stop you. What a strange place to drive in.