RickInOz

Not long after arriving in Adelaide, I wrote about the parlous quality of driving in the city, and little has changed since. Bad habits abound and the following are my current peeves:

1. Poor lane discipline. Or should that be zero lane discipline.  It never ceases to amaze that drivers can’t stay between two very conspicuous painted white lines. They frequently stray out of their lane even while driving along a perfectly straight road. Or heaven forbid that they might actually stay in lane while going round a corner. I can’t count the number of near misses I’ve had with those next to me thinking it’s acceptable to carve towards neighbouring vehicles.
2. While we’re on the subject, how difficult is it to go round a bend? Surely a bit of judgement, appropriate speed and some turning of the steering wheel does the job. Well, your average driver here must liken it to rocket science as they either clip the corner or take a racing line. All well and good, but not if there are other road users about, and I’ve suddenly found myself intimately sharing a cycle lane with those too lazy to take the correct path round a bend.
3. Further on the subject, where does it say that indicators are required to go round a bend. Surely they are to signal intention to take an unpredicted course like turn into a side road or take one or other option at a junction. But I would have thought it would be a given that they would follow the curvature of the road, when the alternative is ploughing into someone’s front garden.
4. Which segues into another signalling gripe, that of the missed indication. I know they are an optional extra on BMWs, but most other cars have them fitted. Which becomes annoying when they are used when not necessary, but more so not used when necessary. Perhaps having to turn the steering wheel and operate the indicator lever counts as multi-tasking and is beyond the scope of possibility.

That’s enough for now, and I’m sure I’ll encounter more soon enough. Perhaps I’m just more concious that ever of the danger posed by inattentive motorists now our new baby will be born in two days time. That’s right, delivery of the Subaru will be induced on Saturday morning and I will be rushing from work to cut it’s cord with the dealer.

Photos to follow of course.