DRIVING IN WESTER AUSTRALIA (especially) _______________________________     It is well known, globally, that Australian drivers are amongst the worst in the world. They are aggressive, discourteous, ignorant and with little driving skills that contribute to road safety. They also drive totally inappropriate vehicles for their needs, the needs of others, and for the roads as constructed, thus, those of us with the necessary skills are deprived of our pleasure in driving.     This lack of driving knowledge and skills, is encouraged by those who deem to create the road systems, because they also lack the knowledge and skills of even a driver, as well as those of designing roads.     From the outset, I wish to make it plain that I do not want to travel on roads at high speed (although it would sometimes help to hone my skills). I have always been a careful, courteous and considerate driver, who has driven in more conditions than most Australian drivers will ever see; hence my expansive skills.     Road use is first and foremost having the skills to be behind the wheel of a vehicle, whatever it is. It is also, a positive attitude. These are my observations:     Most 'crosses-for-losses', as I call them, are found on straight four-lane highways. Most accidents resulting in these reminders of lack of driving skills, happen at night. This has nothing to do with silly speed restrictions; it has to do with the inability of drivers to cope with any speed as well as the 'speed' many are taking in drugs. Reducing speed, should imply the drug, not the velocity of a vehicle. The fact that a driver may be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, a bad time, is part of the lack of skills that cause their demise. Wide roads, no traffic Driving Habits     Aggressive (reflects the nature of a great deal of 'Australians')     Thoughtless (same)     Lack of manners (road and otherwise) Driving Attitude     Apathetic (couldn't care less..I'm on the road, stuff you!)     Ignorant (There is no excuse for ignorance). Driving skills     Less than adequate (couln't ride a bicycle without hurting someone).     No sense of road manoevres/positioning (Hopeless sense of directing a vehicle).     No sense of other drivers' behaviour (Couldn't read a book without asking someone what the title meant).     No sense of direction (Mostly right-hand lane, which is the overtaking lane)     No sense of lane positioning (same)     No sense of driving at speed (hopeless after 110 kmph...much as the 'police').     No sense of driving at night ( blind in daylight).     No sense of  using brakes/handbrake ('That's what brakes are for!.)     Driving with headlights in broad daylight ( 'I can't see you. Can you see me?')     Pulling out in front of traffic (You're not supposed to be there!) Driver Instruction     It's obvious that driving instructors fall foul to the same inexperience as the drivers who they purport to teach. Unless a driving instructor has experience in a     majority of driving modes, then he/she has no qualification to teach others. Driving to Conditions, not restrictions     Those who constrict, most often do not know or understand the conditions in which they are driving. Use of unreasonable vehicles on the road     Four-wheeled vehciles     Mini buses for towing over-numbers of children to school Overuse of traffic calming     Obstructing the highway     Ludicrous speed restrictions        No monitoring of students who fail to use appropriate crossings set up at schools, only the monitoring of a perfectly ludicrous 40kmph. (Who thought that stupidity up?)     No definition of a built-up area for the equally ludicrous 50kmph restriction is some areas. (Thought up by the same imbecile? What drugs were he/she/they on?)     Downright dangerous 'Vehicles must turn left'.     Downright dangerous three lanes into two     Designated as 'Black Spot' areas. Road makers and law-makers are to blame for them! 'Police'     Pathetic use of 'police' in trying to curb dangerous driving.         Are generally 'bully boys' until they are proven innocent of the charge.     'Police' are not entitled to 'target' anything but to uphold rules of positive and negative conduct.     No 'police' presence on the roads, except for 'ray' guns , whilst hiding in bushes (the easy basket) to extract even more revenue from an over-taxed public.     No recording of vehciles emitting dangerous products of combustion.     Over-use of sirens, especially late at night and early morning.

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