I’ve decided Melburnian peak-hour drivers are definitely not befitting the city’s status as most livable city in the world (or second most livable city). People complain about Malaysian drivers/driving all the time, which is fair enough because Malaysians aren’t exactly known for their courteous manner towards anyone without ‘tourist’ stamped on their forehead. But I must say it’s been a rather rude shock to find Aussies behaving just as uncouthly on the roads.
First of all, let me say that I do not, in any way, provoke these people. In fact, half the time I’m not even the one doing the driving. I watch it happen to other people on the road all the time. Second of all, let me say that while I am prone to bend road rules about keep-clear spaces once in a while, I never get pounced on for that. Thirdly, I should also state that despite being the ‘Malaysian driver’, I always let someone pass me by, cut in front of me, even toot their horn and gesture rudely at me (more on that later) with nary a care in the world. I have never used my horn in Melbourne, except when there is a sign that says “horn before exiting” – from a carpark, for instance.
In the rude drivers’ defence – I don’t know why I’m defending them – these incidents almost always happen during peak hour, and while I understand they may be running late for valid or unacceptable reasons (I don’t really care which), I do not need to start my mornings in their unpleasant company.
Just yesterday morning, I was waiting to turn onto a super-busy main road at an intersection, and I was, well, waiting for a space to open up so I could get through. I saw a possible opening, but a car was coming at me so I waited for it to pass, and the rude-as bloke behind me in his big fancy four-wheel-drive – who couldn’t see the oncoming car by the way – beeped angrily and (I kid you not) yelled something at me in his car and gestured with both open palms.
When there was finally an opening, I turned and he accelerated and cut in front of me, wedging his fat front between my car and the car in front of me, which lucky for him was moving forward so he wasn’t caught across two opposite lanes of traffic. Idiot. Also lucky for him is the fact that I do not have road rage issues, and therefore do not feel the urge to toot my horn at him, or get down and kick his big fat four-wheel-drive’s sorry bum.
Then there was the time I was a passenger in a friend’s car, and said friend wanted to change lanes while cars were stopped at a traffic light. There were no cars in the left lane so he slowly nudged his way into it and checked to make sure nothing was barreling down on him. There was a pick-up (or ute, I can’t remember which is which) coming in the distance, so he figured he would go for it.
Little did he know (and again, I kid you not), the lady behind the wheel of the pick-up or ute accelerated and screeched to a stop inches from the half-out car, whereby she proceeded to scream obscenities and gesture and play her horn for all she was worth, which probably wasn’t much. She looked a little unwashed and disheveled, and her ute was really dirty and covered with painted flowers! Someone at the hippie wannabe club obviously forgot to tell her they were peace-loving, live and let live, carefree, fun people.
These are just two examples. I’ve got at least one more but I can’t be bothered to continue.
