Keep Left - Unless Overtaking

or each other 😉

… and then you both are blinded, lose sight of the road, go off the road, lose control and both crash into trees. Nice plan!

Drive at me in your subaru with idiot lights on and I will reply with my lighting array and blind you. It is quite simple really – mine will burn your retinas.

Speaking of fog lights … I saw an ACTION bus this evening on Bunda Street with it’s yellow fog lights turned on. But don’t want to pick on the ACTION bus drivers – got to look after them. Precious few left 🙂

Spideydog said :

In saying this, in my early auto elec days, we wired driving lights to only operate with high beam, and fog lights only with low ??

In fog you don’t want to use your highbeams as the light just scatters back into your eyes. Low beam doesn’t get the back scatter so you can see further.

Another related point to this thread is the complete lack of Government support for roadworthy vehicles in the ACT. There is NO serious inspection after purchase. That’s it. You can run slicks, no lights, poorly adjusted lights, any amount of rust, frayed seatbelts, dodgy repairs, the lot. No problems. Also, rego seems to be optional too if you read the reports of P plate drivers speeding around the place.

As for ADR’s, forget it. The grey import looks close enough, and our policy makers seem to think that this is good enough.

Now the fine print like the stupid radio advertising on FM radio:

(Said quickly and in monotone) TermsandconditionsapplySeeinstorefordetailsACTpermitnumberTP1234AuthorisedbyJ.SmithSydneyAllopinionsexpressedarethatofthe writerandnotindicativeofmuchreally.

You can see how I find the trailer to radio ads just ridiculous. I recently clocked six in a row while listening to one of Sydney’s highest rating stations. I eventually found the tuner and moved on.

Yeah, in order to miss the mobile car park around the airport, and again at the Rusell/Kings Ave roundabout, you either have to come through around 7am, or after 9am. So I alternate. Works pretty well. but today I doubled back on the Oaks Estate Road and onto Canberra Ave, which was busy, but moving well. The cars were stationary up on that hill, not moving an inch.

Running late for work ant? 🙂 I house-sat out at Queanbeyan for a week a few weeks back … and I’ll never complain about the Gungahlin->City commute again.

Speaking of driving, what the hell happened on Pialligo Avenue this morning? It was about 9.15am as I headed to Canberra from Qbn, and traffic was at a standstill on the hill above Fairbairn. A few cars were coming the other way, but htey might have been cars that, like me, turned around and went back to Qbn.

I love the way the local radio has umpteen “traffic updates” until 9am, and then go into autopilot after that.

Was it another crash at the Fairbairn entrance? There was a biggie there a few weeks back that fouled things up for hours.

Hamilton – ignore the trolls and post whatever topic you want – let the moderator sort it out. Keeping left has been done to death but these threads often bring up other interesting topics like the use of driving/fog lights.

my two cents – hate those wankers who drive around at night with only their fog lights on, no headlights – or they have just their parking lights on – goddamn poseurs!

Welcome aboard Hamilton. They were your words I was responding too – merely pointing out the tool that many new contributors seem to miss.
It is indeed a popular thread, as threads on driving behaviour invariably are…

Gungahlin Al said :

“Not sure if this had been done to death on RiotACT or not – I am new to the site.”

That would be what that whopping big Search field at the top of the Home Page would be for…

Gungahlin Al, thanks for the warm welcome – obviously it hasen’t been done to death because 56 people have responded – I also note that includes you – If it’s been sone to death then go and look at another thread and stop responding to this one!!

Perhaps some clarification is needed here. Driving lights and fog lights, as opposed to standard headlights, have different shaped prisms and lenses, which allows the beam to spread relatively evenly in all directions, including upward. Regaulr headlights on low beam are designed to spread only straight ahead and downwards, with only a small amout of light escaping upwards. What this means is that you can look at most oncoming vehicles with low beam headlights on and not be dazzled, because very little of the light points up toward your eyes. High beams, driving lights and foglights all allow a large percentage of light to escape above parallel to the road, which makes them appear significantly brighter, but also makes them more effective (when there’s no oncoming traffic). Aiming your driving or fog lights downward doesn’t actually help that much!

Gungahlin Al said :

That would be what that whopping big Search field at the top of the Home Page would be for…

What – the article from last October, that only got 27 comments? That’s hardly “done to death”. This one already has double the responses and is still going – I think it had to be done 🙂

“Not sure if this had been done to death on RiotACT or not – I am new to the site.”

That would be what that whopping big Search field at the top of the Home Page would be for…

And Skaboy – your “driving lights” only light “5-7 metres in front of the car that the headlights don’t cover, which is the prime distance for spotting potholes”?
Giving you a physiologically impossible couple of tenths of a second to do something about them? And if they are so sweetly adjusted to light only potholes, how is it that they have helped you spot animals in time to swerve? Think you’d find that 5-7 is in need of a remeasure. Maybe let someone else drive your car towards you, and see how you feel?

My 1992 or something Mazda 626 (obviously owned before aforementioned MINI :p) was knocked back on a roadworthy by Discount Tyres in Phillip because the fog/driving lights could not be turned off independently of the main headlights … until I proved that that’s actually the way the car was designed and therefore (as is done with seatbelt regulations) the car was allowed to pass as-is without modifications – just a bit of info 🙂

It is actually an offence as well, if they are deemed to dazzle. So if you are told to turn them off without receiving ticket, it should be happy days….

Driving lights are designed for extra seeing distance, front and sides with HIGH BEAM.
Fog lights are designed for fog conditions only.

4 headlights coming from the one origin, in normal conditions, is dazzling.

In saying this, in my early auto elec days, we wired driving lights to only operate with high beam, and fog lights only with low ??

Crikey said :

Don’t even get me started on the idiots who turn right at roundabouts from the left lane.

That was the pre-National law in Canberra, LH lane on the roundabout had right of way.
The RH lane had right of way after exiting when you were merging. Insanity.
One instructor even told me to always use the left lane on the roundabout. No thanks.

i have my driving lights on as they are directed to light the 5-7 metres in front of the car that the headlights don’t cover, which is the prime distance for spotting potholes.

They are also low down in the front bumper and the car is lowered, making them even closer to the ground. They have also been aligned and adjusted, as have my headlights to ensure they do not dazzle.

I have found that they are required in urban areas, especially in th ACT where there are large residential areas without adequate street lighting. On several occasions I have spotted animals that have run out in front of me that i probably wouldn’t hav spotted with the headlights. Of course stopping in time was due to the AWD, decent tyres, suspension work and oversized brakes. Mind you 3 of those things that improve safety were ruled as defects in the ACT hence the NSW rego.

fnaah said :

I used to live in Kambah, but since moving further south, I’ve actually started to enjoy my commute to the airport via Queanbeyan. As much as we RiotACTers love to bash our neighbours, you have to give them credit for having much better road manners – by and large, the dickhead drivers in Quangers have ACT plates.

I agree. I drive about 300km a day around Canberra and Queanbeyan and for the most part find the Qbn drivers much better than Canberra ones.

Ahh…proving once again that traffic issues are the biggest issue in Canberra.

1. Yes, please be considerate and don’t drive in the right lane unless you are overtaking. Even if you are doing the limit and someone is right behind you, be nice and let them pass. Irritating people just because you can is not cool.

2. Fog lights are annoying as they dazzle other drivers in the eyes. There is no point in having them on most of the time so why do it? Two regular headlights are just fine whether it be day or night. A lot of cops will pull you over and tell you to turn your fog lights off so be prepared for that. Be nice and just do it without the attitude, why make a big deal out of it? Oh cause your car looks cooler at night with them on? Well thats obviously important, particular at everyone else’s expense.

My pet hate is people who beep their horn at other dickheads on the road. You’ve just proved who the bigger dickhead is. RELAX guys … who cares if someone is going under the speed limit, or in the right lane, or has their lights on, or slows down to merge. Drive defensively – concentrate on your own safe driving and stop getting into a pickle over other people.

Because there was an ad on telly saying we all had to indicate both on entering and exiting a roundabout. Some people go overboard.

Crikey, I feel for you and roundabouts.

Can someone please explain why people indicate right from the left lane when they intend to travel straight through? I don’t get it, and think I am missing something.

I find it very dangerous and off putting, but see it every day at the Barton Highway roundabout, and nearly always performed by the ‘blue rinse set’.

Bungle even fog lights can get in your eyes and are just not needed in town. On the highway it’s a different matter.

Headlights on during daylight operation results in a reduction of 15% in the occurence of an accident. (Result of a study involving fleet operators).

Misaligned fog lamps and high beam/driving lights probably have the same result in accident reduction, but cause gross annoyance in other road users. Unfortunately, unless one is in the spot of these more powerful beams, it is dificult to detect the distraction. I am all for a bit of public education, and a big stick for the plod when the mugs screw it up.

Why do people have a problem with fog lights? That rate the plate site is obsessed with them!! When was the last time a pair of fog lights caused an accident?

In some countries having your headlights on during the day is the law. As someone who’s had someone pull out in front of me on the Hume Hwy I always have my lights on when on the open road. Wouldn’t it be better to use fog lights – which are supposed to point down more than your regular headlights?

LOL toadstool.

Hamilton: Silver BA Falcon heading northbound at about 7:45-7:50 this morning by any chance?

I feel your pain. A long line of traffic banked up from the Lady Denman turnoff all the way back to Cotter Road was the result. Crunts.

BASIC RULES FOR DRIVING IN CANBERRA

1. Indicators will give away your next move. A real Canberra driver never uses them.

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 less chance you have of getting hit.

5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive repairs. 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 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 Canberra.

9. Always slow down and rubberneck when you see an accident or evensomeone changing a tyre.

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

11. Learn to swerve abruptly. Canberra is the home of High-Speed Slalom Driving thanks to the Urban services, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers’ reflexes and keep them on their toes, not forgetting the ‘Test your skill’ chicanes in suburbs.

12. It is traditional in Canberra 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 Canberra driver is to get there first, by whatever means necessary.

16. Real Canberra women drivers can put on pantyhose and apply eye makeup at 75 kph in bumper-to-bumper traffic

17. Real Canberra men drivers can remove pantyhose and a bra at 95 kph 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 panel beaters, junkyards, and new vehicle sales. It is an acceptable practice to increase your speed in comparison to the rate of rain fall, i.e.: the harder it rains, the faster you go

19. There is a commonly held belief in Canberra 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, hell – 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 The Causeway, Lower Kambah, Lower Wanniassa, Scullin, Charnwood, Areas of Ainslie, and Oaks Estate.

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

23. It’s O.K when driving in Belconnen’s suburbs to air your grievances at bad drivers by giving the ‘one finger salute’ while screaming out ‘#%*#’. However, it is imperative you are driving at least a 5-litre V8 with a crow bar in your lap

24. Canberra drivers are experts at merging, when in two or more lanes travelling in the same direction, ensure that if you see someone politely indicating, waiting slowly trying to merge into your lane, show them that they must ‘Wait their turn’ to use your lane. Speed up, try to cut them off, should they succeed and get into your lane never mind that it was actually legal for them to do that, ensure that your flash your lights, honk your horn, use extreme hand gestures, even tailgate them, just to let them know, IT WAS YOUR LANE

25. Ensure that when merging into traffic travelling at any more than 40kph that you stop in the merging lane, backing up traffic for miles behind you, ensuring that you have given yourself or no-one else that opportunity to merge. Again, forget that the traffic handbook states that you should speed up to meet traffic speed then merge. If you are travelling in a lane near a merge lane, don’t change lanes to make it easy for them, instead see rule 24, after all they deserve it

26. While using Canberra roundabouts, particularly two lane roundabouts, ENSURE that you are in the left lane to turn right, or the right to turn left, hell lets keep those people in those other lanes on their toes.

27. If you are an Action bus driver, you must win at all costs, getting to your destination prior to any other driver is life and death. Never worry about your passengers bouncing round in the back like tennis balls, it’s a cheap form of theme park, in fact Canberra’s very own

28. Canberra Cabs, see rule 27, except you are now qualifying for the GMC 400

29. Pedestrian crossings – What are they?

30. If you are a cyclist, remember YOU ARE INVINCIBLE, you are stronger than ANY vehicle travelling at speed, MAKE SURE you take the whole lane for yourself, and at night NEVER use lights, remember They Will See You!

I’m not sure that 4WD owners tailgate more than others, but it does feel like it sometimes when you’ve got a grill filling your rear vision mirror.

On the lane change thing, the trick is to indicate, then move across assertively. If the gap is there, take it, don’t screw around waiting for a 50 metre break in traffic!

Grrr, me too. Recumbant bikes with their fog lights on! Grrrrr.

Ari = pool hall!

damn i hate those bikes…

Your Mini sounds like it’s barely a step up from a recumbent bike.

I don’t plan on having my MINI worked on so I can turn my driving lights off – I don’t believe they’re a problem. What is the problem is the 4WDs with their lights a metre off the ground, who come up behind you, 2 feet off your rear, all 4+ lights blazing into your car lighting it up like a mobile disco.

Throwback to another thread… you can name’n’shame on http://www.ratetheplate.com.au/

Welcome to the forum Hamilton.

Yes, this has been done to death. 1 star.

In fact, you could say that Canberra drivers are good at hurriedly closing the gap if they suspect that another driver is daring to think about moving into “their” lane.

LG is right.

People get in the right lane so early, because Canberra drivers are not good at letting people in when they are nearly at their turn.

LG said :

Part of the problem there is that Canberra drivers rarely allow room for people to change lanes. Hence they get in when they can and stay there.

While that may be true to a degree, I’m usually pretty able to change lanes without too much fuss. True, sometimes I might have to be assertive to do so, but it is amazing what using indicators and a bit of anticipation can achieve.

deye said :

I must admit there are certain road conditions where I keep right, but usually only when there is no traffic around and I move left if a car does turn up.
For example in rain if the water is pooling in the left hand lane. Another is at night when there is dense bushland to the left but a clear dividing strip to the right, any extra space to see a roo that is waiting to jump out is always welcome.

That’s just called driving to the conditions in my book. And so long as you remain courteous to the drivers that catch you up, as you say, then carry on I reckon.

I must admit there are certain road conditions where I keep right, but usually only when there is no traffic around and I move left if a car does turn up.
For example in rain if the water is pooling in the left hand lane. Another is at night when there is dense bushland to the left but a clear dividing strip to the right, any extra space to see a roo that is waiting to jump out is always welcome.

Yeah, this is one of my pet peeves! It comes down to the fact that most Canberran drivers aren’t considerate, they are selfish pricks when they get behind the wheel of a car.

Regardless of the grey interpretations of the keep left law, it’s courtious to get over to the left hand lane if you’re not going to do the speed limit. I’m sure some people take great pleasure in holding up as much traffic as possible, smirking to themselves when drivers behind them get irrate. You know the types, i’m sure we’ve all come across them.

Then there are the potentially more dangerous ones, which don’t even realise what they are doing, or even look in their rear view mirrors. I often give them a flash of the headlights to indicate they are holding everyone up, and failing that a toot on the horn. Some get it and move over, others go apeshit and give you the finger etc.

Whatever, people’s behaviour is never going to change unless police start booking them for it. It would probably stop alot of the tailgaiting which goes on too.

“Skaboy, if the cops are actually pinging you about your lights, maybe it’s a hint that there’s something wrong? It’s a shame to read that ACT and NSW cops have tried to do their jobs, and you’ve used a technicality to get out of it”. Ant

No I think some cops are just bored or want to exploit their authority. I was driving up Adelaide Avenue with a cop car cruising along at probably 70km/h so everyone else thought they had to drive at 70km/h or less. The speed limit is 80km/h. I can’t stand when people go 20k’s less when a cop car is around so I maintained 80km/h and obviously passed a lot of traffic. Then next thing I know I’m getting pulled over for speeding. I knew I wasn’t speeding so I asked to see the speed gun thingy and they refused. I said well I’m not accepting a fine if you can’t show evidence of me speeding so they basically said “Well don’t do it again” and walked off like big babies. Ugh!!

Hamilton – If you don’t want grey hair then don’t drive on Adelaide Avenue at peak hour (actually any hour for that matter), no one driving on that road knows what “KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING” means. So frustrating.

Crikey said :

Don’t even get me started on the idiots who turn right at round-abouts from the left lane.

Or the morons who need 2 lanes of the roundabout to get through it. it is 2 lanes to allow for 2 cars, if you are using both then slow down and learn how to turn your car properly.

ant said :

Maybe the Riotact overlords can change Hamilton’s appellation to “Road Rager”.

Road Rager? No road rage here my friend, just pointing out the facts – It’s not worth getting angry over – You never know when some mullet sporting queanbeyan type is gonna slam on their brakes and pull out their glock!

Don’t even get me started on the idiots who turn right at round-abouts from the left lane.

BenMac said :

The problem is, Canberra drivers feel they need to be in the lane that they will turn from straight away. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1km away or 50. Best example is Northbourne. If someone gets on Northbourne at Barton Hwy and needs to turn right at London Circuit, they feel they have to be in the right hand lane as soon a possible.

Part of the problem there is that Canberra drivers rarely allow room for people to change lanes. Hence they get in when they can and stay there.

Maybe the Riotact overlords can change Hamilton’s appellation to “Road Rager”.

“If, as the OP claims, there were ‘thousands’ of cars banked up behind them, it would sound as though the parkway was congested.”

Thats just it, they are behind you not in front of you – the only reason there is congestion is because the two pin-heads in front are holding up traffic.

I suspect you are one of the people I am talking about – Why don’t you trade in your volvo 244 station wagon for something that will actualy do the speed limit

OR

get in the f@$#ing left hand lane!

Not a hard concept but clearly you are having difficulty understanding it!

fnaah said :

Sorry V8_berlina, just re-read your post. Point taken – perhaps my driving lights are fog lights.

Yes, they are. Or at least, they were labelled as such on our old 2001 model Outback.

I agree with much of what is written above, especially this…

BenMac said :

The problem is, Canberra drivers feel they need to be in the lane that they will turn from straight away. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1km away or 50. Best example is Northbourne. If someone gets on Northbourne at Barton Hwy and needs to turn right at London Circuit, they feel they have to be in the right hand lane as soon a possible.

…I have that problem almost every morning on the way to work. I know I should chill a little and it doesn’t really matter that there are two bloody empty lanes turning on to Barry Drive that could be used, but gee it fires me up, haha! Just go in to one of the empty lanes, use your indicator and merge with the flowing traffic, it’s not that friggin hard y’know. Please!

Okay, enough venting. Many of these issues aren’t confined to Canberra of course. I was driving in Tasmania recently, don’t tell anyone but it was in one of those evil BMW X5 things, and towing a trailer … anyway, I was on the dual carriageway from Launceston into Devonport. 100km/h zone (may have even been 110km/h), there was a car doing around 80km/h in the left lane, no problems I thought as I indicated and moved into the empty right lane and began to overtake. Being in the bigger car I left plenty of room, and too much as it turns out. The lovely old dear I’m trying to overtake, also moved into the right lane forcing me to take some reasonably evasive action so as not to run into the back of her. A few expletives later and I’m happily back in my left lane minding my own business. I’m not sure where that dear old thing was hoping to go, there wasn’t a right hand exit on that road for at least 5 more kilometres. Bloody amazing!

I admit I have some poor driving habits that see me do things I probably shouldn’t, mostly inspired by having a short temper when it comes to d!ckhead drivers–if you drive a Camry, then yes, that is probably you–but VYBerlina’s point above about showing courtesy to other drivers is bang on the money. Sadly, it is a very rare thing, if it were more common place then the daily commute for all of us would be a much more pleasant experience.

Sorry V8_berlina, just re-read your post. Point taken – perhaps my driving lights are fog lights.

V8_berlina, what would be the sense of fog lights that only work when your high beams are on? In fog, high beams reflect back into your eyes, which is why you need fog lights pointed *downwards*.

My subaru (which has an australian compliance plate, last time I looked) has factory fitted driving lights, and I can use them when the high beams are off.

I used to live in Kambah, but since moving further south, I’ve actually started to enjoy my commute to the airport via Queanbeyan. As much as we RiotACTers love to bash our neighbours, you have to give them credit for having much better road manners – by and large, the dickhead drivers in Quangers have ACT plates.

In a rare moment of agreement with WMC, I also believe that driving lights are inappropriate in town, as they dazzle and blind other drivers. Technically, I believe driving lights must, by law, be installed such that they can only be turned on when the headlight high beam is on. Fog lights can be installed so they are able to be turned on any time. So… if you’re using driving lights with other traffic around, you are either high-beaming other cars (illegal), or you have your driving lights wired incorrectly (illegal).

Plus, you look like a wanker.

skaboy12 said :

54-11 said :

On that note, ATTENTION ALL EXCEL OWNERS, turn off that stupid red ‘adverse condition’ light on the back of your car. It is bright and annoying and unnecessary.
.

If you drive a freaking Hyundai, you have forfeited your right to live. Please reort to Charnwood immediately.

According to the Australian Road Rules (218kb PDF, the ‘keep left’ rule applies to drivers on multi-lane roads where:

(a) the speed-limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving is over 80 kilometres per hour;

or

(b) a keep left unless overtaking sign applies to the length of road where the driver is driving.

Of course, the Rules also provide exceptions. One of them is that you’re allowed to drive on the right if “the traffic in each other lane is congested; or the traffic in every lane is congested.”

If, as the OP claims, there were ‘thousands’ of cars banked up behind them, it would sound as though the parkway was congested. If so, drivers can use both lanes, and they’re not under any obligation to do over the speed limit in the right lane just because somebody thinks it’s their Jeebus-given right to have that lane kept free so they can do whatever speed they like. If the parkway was congested, then a speed of 90km/h seems reasonable for the conditions – sometimes it gets down to 80, or even 70. Suck it up, or go another way.

And for those of you who need “driving lights” – stop tugging your tiny d1cks so hard and your eyesight might improve. Two headlights are enough for us non-ricers – they should be enough for you too.

In any speed zone above 80km/h it is law to keep left unless overtaking

Are you sure it’s not 80km/h and above, because on some 80 roads (Ginninderra Dr south of Kingsford) there are signs which tell you to keep left.

The problem is, Canberra drivers feel they need to be in the lane that they will turn from straight away. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1km away or 50. Best example is Northbourne. If someone gets on Northbourne at Barton Hwy and needs to turn right at London Circuit, they feel they have to be in the right hand lane as soon a possible.

An awful lot of car headlights these days seem to be incredibly bright, and adjusted wrongly. Very annoying. Skaboy, if the cops are actually pinging you about your lights, maybe it’s a hint that there’s something wrong? It’s a shame to read that ACT and NSW cops have tried to do their jobs, and you’ve used a technicality to get out of it.

It’s sloblike too for people to sit in the right lane on a fast road unless they’re about to turn right.And yes, whoever pointed out that it’s keep left unless overtaking on roads listed as 80 kms/hr or above. On roads below 80 kms/hr, it’s not.

But you won’t see any traffic problems enforced, except of course speeding. I get tailgated every day for the crime of doing 40 kms/hr in a school zone.

54-11 said :

Forget about any Police blitz. In Canberra, you can do anything you want – hog the right-hand lane, use the mobile, drive with driving lights blazing, never use your indicators, et al.

I have already won the argument regarding driving lights with both AFP and NSW police. I was told I could be fined for having them on unless it was in adverse weather. I argued that in the handbook for my car they are called ‘driving’ lights not ‘fog’ or ‘adverse’ weather lights. The cop so referred to them as ‘driving’ lights.

My argument was if the they are called ‘driving’ lights, then I can use them while ‘driving’. The AFP cop let me leave them on and go, because technically I was right. The NSW cop fined me, I took it to court and won. The law states the you cannot use ‘fog’ or ‘adverse condition’ lights unless it is adverse conditions.

On that note, ATTENTION ALL EXCEL OWNERS, turn off that stupid red ‘adverse condition’ light on the back of your car. It is bright and annoying and unnecessary.

Also, if you plan to leave your driving lights on, make sure they are aligned properly. It is annoying when they shine in other drivers eyes and most are not set up properly in the factory. VE commodores and most BMWs are particularly bad for it.

“I think its time for some kind of police blitz.”

but it’s taking care of their no speeding policy for them. Heaven forbid that someone actually speeds. Doesn’t matter if you aren’t paying attention, driving dangerously, have your car or home broken into. Just. Don’t. Speed. Speeding Kills.

At least you get two lanes on the Parkway. GDE’s single lane is already rooted. 30 minutes from the Barton Hwy to Glenloch this morning. The Ainslie rat run is looking good again…

I am now seeing desperado’s undertake on the on/off ramps, and people heading towards Glenloch going up the Aranda ramp and heding back down the other side to end up 20 cars further up the road.

Perhaps if the AFP sat someone there to monitor if anyone actually stops at the stop sign they could pay a days waged to a couple of people, and perhaps slow a couple of drivers down.

Forget about any Police blitz. In Canberra, you can do anything you want – hog the right-hand lane, use the mobile, drive with driving lights blazing, never use your indicators, et al.

Just never speed.

Lane hogging is fairly standard behaviour in Canberra, certainly more so than you see in other major cities around Australia. This topic was done recently on RiotACT, and even included comments from a person who admitted to taking delight in holding others up. Yet these type are the first to complain about tailgating, which, frankly, occurs primarily in the right hand lane.

When I learnt to drive it was ‘keep left unless overtaking’ out of courtesy for other road users, and in the interest of keeping the traffic moving.

In any speed zone above 80km/h it is law to keep left unless overtaking.

That’s common across all states in .au

If you are in an 80 zone, or below, it does not apply.

It’s a common problem. A few weeks back I was stuck behind a woman doing 80 down the Tuggeranong Parkway (100 speed limit) in the right hand lane. She wouldn’t move, so I gave a quick blast of my horn & she went OFF. Screamed & yelled at me, waved her arms about, stuck her fingers up out her window….what a freak. She did move over though.