28 April 2011

Stupid Canberra Drivers 1000001

| JC
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3-4 weeks ago the intersection of Ginninderra Drive and Kingsford Smith Drive was resurfaced and had the lanes and traffic signals adjusted. Previously in each direction there were 2 straight through lanes and one turn lane, with each straight and turn direction operating independently on the lights. Now heading towards the city (east bound) on Ginninderra drive the left lane is straight through, the middle lane is straight AND now right turn and the right lane is right turn only, clearly meaning 2 lanes of traffic can now turn right. The lights were also adjusted to match meaning that heading towards the city the straight and turn operate together, same too with the west bound direction, however no changes were made to lanes or lights on the Kingsford Smith Drive direction.

Now since this has been done I have personally observed 1 accident where a car has turned from the right lane and then come straight across onto a car that was turning right from the middle lane. Judging by the glass in the intersection I have no doubt there have been a few similar accidents. I have also seen 2 near misses where cars on the right have come across only to find a car (legally) turning on their left and just this afternoon was on the receiving end of a long blast of a horn and a dick head hand gesture whilst turning right from the middle lane when a car wanted to turn right then get straight into the left hand lane where I was.

Now I must ask are people really that stupid that they cannot see that the road layout has changed? I mean to say on the approach to the intersection the directions one can go from each lane is very clearly marked, thanks to the new road surface. Likewise the turn lanes are also very clearly marked with dashes funneling the right lane into the right lane of Kingsford Smith and the middle lane into the left hand lane of Kingsford Smith. Besides when turning right you should never actually go to the left hand lane anyway, so why the accidents, near misses and stupidity of drivers with this change?

Overall I think it is a good change. Of late east bound traffic wanting to turn right at this intersection has been blocking through traffic on Ginninderra Drive in the AM peak, so this solves this. Only odd thing is I don’t understand why going the other way they have not allowed the turn right from the middle lane towards Mt Rogers. Whilst I never saw traffic in the PM peak block Ginninderra Drive, having two turn lanes would be much better and would, now the lights have been reconfigured be as simple as some new lane marking to implement.

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To the blonde bint in the whiter lancer YBO-034 who threw a cigarette butt out of the window at the lights on Northbourne and Mouat,

When you see someone do that, give them a blast of the horn. YES I BLOODY SAW YOU, YOU PIG! You never know, it might make them think twice next time.

ConanOfCooma said :

Canberra drivers, really. Consider yourself lucky it’s not QLD!

THIS.

To the blonde bint in the whiter lancer YBO-034 who threw a cigarette butt out of the window at the lights on Northbourne and Mouat, I hope your car gets stolen and torched. It’s idiots like you that burn down forests and suburbs in summer.

And bloody frightening when the stupid morons do it in front of you when on you’re on a motor bike. Just need one of those butts under the skid-lid…

It is also a very good idea to behave yourself behind the wheel when you are driving a car that advertises your business.

I can guarantee that I will never use – nor recommend – “Dont Panic Plumbing Service” ! Obviously doing well for himself and doesn’t need any extra business !

madamcholet said :

And don’t you just love the way that all these people who speed, tailgate etc, always make sure they use their indicator! I mean, what’s the point if they don’t adhere to most of the road rules anyway – what makes them deem it necessary to indicate as they speed past you after tailgating you for miles?

Bingo, I have noticed the exact same thing. Tailgaters indicate like their life depends on it. I’ve mused upon this for some years, and have come to the conclusion that it’s a sense of self-righteousness.

They tailgate in the belief that they are more important than the person they’re tailgating. The person is in their way. The person isn’t as good a driverer as them, because they can’t press their accelorator as competently.

And they believe that indicating is the mark of a very good driverer, so they do lots of it. And they all do, every bloody one of them. It’s amazing.

Sleaz274 said :

Can we just start a permanent thread entitled…

“Canberra drivers are rubbish – have your rant and move on”

I’m a bit over 100+ comments every week when someone else witnesses someone else do something they think maybe they shouldn’t have and the whole motoring world is collapsing into chaos and everyone is tarred as pathetic morons.

It’s all a little tedious. Go read a book about complex systems and their tendency to break, review your anecdotal evidence of driving where 99.99% of the time nothing happens, have a cup of cement then come make a comment.

+1 🙂

ConanOfCooma8:08 am 29 Apr 11

Canberra drivers, really. Consider yourself lucky it’s not QLD!

Mysteryman said :

EXACTLY. Head check EVERY TIME. I don’t care how good a driver you think you are, you aren’t that good if you don’t observe your surroundings.
.

+1 Have to say this have saved me more than a few times, especially from those idiots that think it’s ok to sit in a car’s blind spot on an empty road with only you and the other car/bike on it…

Can we just start a permanent thread entitled…

“Canberra drivers are rubbish – have your rant and move on”

I’m a bit over 100+ comments every week when someone else witnesses someone else do something they think maybe they shouldn’t have and the whole motoring world is collapsing into chaos and everyone is tarred as pathetic morons.

It’s all a little tedious. Go read a book about complex systems and their tendency to break, review your anecdotal evidence of driving where 99.99% of the time nothing happens, have a cup of cement then come make a comment.

I have just returned from a break in South Australia where we drove two hours north of Adelaide and then back down to Kangaroo Island. I can categorically say that the drivers in Adelaide and the surrounding countryside are much better than those in this town.

On returning to Canberra and driving from Tuggers to Belco to pick up my dog on Monday afternoon it was astoundingly noticeable that Canberra drivers speed, tailgate and have a general disregard for the rules. I always knew it obviously, but after a week of driving somewhere where the drivers pay attention and sometimes even drive under the speed limit, it was very obvious.

I have heard Superintendant Mark Colbran on the radio saying that he doesn’t think Canberra drivers are any worse than in other States, but I totally disagree.

I think that anyone stopped for a speeding offences on the roads should be asked why they think that it is their right to do so. If they can come up with a very reasonable and believable answer then they should not be fined – I would be interested to hear some of the answers anyway.

And don’t you just love the way that all these people who speed, tailgate etc, always make sure they use their indicator! I mean, what’s the point if they don’t adhere to most of the road rules anyway – what makes them deem it necessary to indicate as they speed past you after tailgating you for miles?

The exit from Woden shops opposite the police station had a similar change made a little while ago, allowing people to turn right from the left lane where they’d been unable to do so previously. After witnessing a couple of near misses, I decided to stick to the right lane for a couple of months to give the regular users a chance to figure out what was going on (unless I was first in line in the left lane, in which case I just took off quickly enough to ensure that I stayed in clear view of the driver to my right).

So yeah, people don’t adjust to change well. A “Changed Traffic Conditions” sign would definitely help, though.

Mysteryman said :

JC said :

Keijidosha said :

As for the accidents caused by the new lane markings, I can sympathise with those involved as I have a habit of promptly moving into the left lane when turning right onto a dual carriageway to allow impatient drivers to pass.

Do you do this without looking? That’s the only way an accident can happen in this situation.

EXACTLY. Head check EVERY TIME. I don’t care how good a driver you think you are, you aren’t that good if you don’t observe your surroundings.

Fair call, and yes I do check before changing lanes. However there have been times where I have performed this manouver only to find that the impatient driver behind me has loaded up through the intersection and tried to round me up on the outside. To clarify, I am sympathetic to the innocent parties in these accidents. 😉

JC said :

Keijidosha said :

As for the accidents caused by the new lane markings, I can sympathise with those involved as I have a habit of promptly moving into the left lane when turning right onto a dual carriageway to allow impatient drivers to pass.

Do you do this without looking? That’s the only way an accident can happen in this situation.

EXACTLY. Head check EVERY TIME. I don’t care how good a driver you think you are, you aren’t that good if you don’t observe your surroundings.

I drove through that intersection a few weeks back and immediately noticed the changes. I guess I’m in the small minority of drivers who actually pay attention to what’s going on around me. I think being a motorcyclist has a lot to do with it.

Keijidosha said :

As for the accidents caused by the new lane markings, I can sympathise with those involved as I have a habit of promptly moving into the left lane when turning right onto a dual carriageway to allow impatient drivers to pass.

Fuggem! Take your time, indicate and shoulder check before you change (correctly) into the LH lane. I’d be surprised if anyone (from my observation) was behind you in that scenario anyway! Anyone would think the rule here was to simply charge into the LH lane.

tonkatuff82 said :

The actual problem isn’t the new road changes, it’s that most morons haven’t removed their heads from their bums before taking to the road. Bit hard to see the changes when you’re wearing your lower colon as a hat

One thing the olden (and golden) days of rallying (secret route . . . none of this recce and pace notes stuff the kids of today use) taught you was to always be alert and to drive the road as you see it. That means that, even if you travel the same road day in day out, you will immediately see any change (such as this) and respond accordingly. It’s an extension of the skill that enables you to arrive at a blind crest, at night, on gravel, at eleventy seventy million miles an hour and, no matter which way the road jinks over the top, you can always negotiate it safely (so at 60 km, on tarmac, in broad daylight, stuff like this change is a doddle).

Keijidosha said :

As for the accidents caused by the new lane markings, I can sympathise with those involved as I have a habit of promptly moving into the left lane when turning right onto a dual carriageway to allow impatient drivers to pass.

Do you do this without looking? That’s the only way an accident can happen in this situation.

thatsnotme said :

I may have just missed it, but is there any type of ‘new traffic arrangements’ sign before the intersection? I know that when I went through, there were other cars already at the intersection, parked on top of the new turn markers on the road. It wasn’t until I got into the intersection that I had a chance to see the new dashes on the road, and finally figured out that things had changed.

Quite stupidly there were no changed condition signs, not that people would take notice anyway. As for the turn markings they go back quite a way down Ginninderra drive, so to not see them would mean one hell of a queue of cars.

anotherpublicserv12:14 pm 28 Apr 11

Inappropriate said :

To be fair, they just upped and changed the intersection without any signs or indications that it’s happen. Most people are just driving along in ‘auto-pilot’ and doing what they’ve always done (doesn’t make it right however).

It’s took my a few goes through that intersection to realise that it had changed because mostly, there are cars all around you, so you can’t see the new arrows and guidelines.

I suppose that’s a point- in WA they will always put up signs saying ‘Road Layout Changed Ahead’. Not exactly hard to do this and then people really have no excuse.

anotherpublicserv12:13 pm 28 Apr 11

I agree that this happens frequently Jim Jones… and unfortunately, it happens in roundabouts all the time too (exiting from a non exit lane etc). Highly problematic given the number of roundabouts here. One would think that people would get experienced and learn how to use them. Apparently not.

georgesgenitals12:07 pm 28 Apr 11

Jim Jones said :

And yes, it is worth noting that it is illegal to wander across lanes when you’re turning (despite the fact that this is common practice in Canberra). I’ve seen any number of accidents caused by people doing this.

Agreed. Staying in your lane is actually kinda important.

Inappropriate11:57 am 28 Apr 11

To be fair, they just upped and changed the intersection without any signs or indications that it’s happen. Most people are just driving along in ‘auto-pilot’ and doing what they’ve always done (doesn’t make it right however).

It’s took my a few goes through that intersection to realise that it had changed because mostly, there are cars all around you, so you can’t see the new arrows and guidelines.

And yes, it is worth noting that it is illegal to wander across lanes when you’re turning (despite the fact that this is common practice in Canberra). I’ve seen any number of accidents caused by people doing this.

I agree that the westbound lanes of Ginninderra Drive should have been marked to match the eastbound lanes. Uniformity would only reduce confusion about the new signal and turning lane arrangments.

As for the accidents caused by the new lane markings, I can sympathise with those involved as I have a habit of promptly moving into the left lane when turning right onto a dual carriageway to allow impatient drivers to pass.

“are people really that stupid that they cannot see that the road layout has changed”

Yes

The changes at that intersection surprised me the first time I went through over the weekend, travelling straight through using the middle lane. At first I thought the car ahead of me had just forgotten to turn his indicator off, until he actually did turn right.

I may have just missed it, but is there any type of ‘new traffic arrangements’ sign before the intersection? I know that when I went through, there were other cars already at the intersection, parked on top of the new turn markers on the road. It wasn’t until I got into the intersection that I had a chance to see the new dashes on the road, and finally figured out that things had changed.

The actual problem isn’t the new road changes, it’s that most morons haven’t removed their heads from their bums before taking to the road. Bit hard to see the changes when you’re wearing your lower colon as a hat

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