Only about 10% of aussies live outside of cities.
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I agree thats a mega issue.
At the moment i typically aim for a 3 second gap, but if i can see a wally aiming to snick in i might either hedge them out a bit by temporarily lessening it to 2.5 or 2.0 seconds, or if they are too much of a risk taker and will still dive in i honk them solidly. They are creating a dangerous situation as you say, and its one of my contributions to driver education.
I almost look forward to the day someone does a pit manouver on themself as they manically swerve into my lane, hitting the rear of their vehicle against my front, and if my vehicle isnt hurt i really wont feel like stopping either (pretty sure i would though). Makes me feel like having a nice solid bullbar.
When merging, a small portion of the population seem to think the merging car has right of way (not!). Or they dive in too quick, crossing over an unbroken line and create a dangerous situation. Or they fail to merge and get to the end of their lane and stop, which is also dangerous.
And all the people that stuff up zip merges. They dont realise that legal priority goes to the vehicle whose nose is in front, even if it is a road train, and the car or whatever may have to almost stop to give way if they have failed to anticipate the situation.
I had to do a drive to the city to watch Disney on ice thing a couple of days ago. About the same distance as you actually.
There was a fatality on the way which held us up about 45 minutes. Motorbike hit by a truck i believe listening to the cb. Never seen anything though thankfully. (Car full of kids)
On the way home at 4.30pm the traffic was bad. The amount of people driving so close to the car in front was amazing. Literally not even able to see the number plates they drive that close some of them.
The amount of people breaking the law like that or on there phones was really staggering.
I guess im too used to the country now. That sort of driving annoys the hell out of me, glad to be away from it.
I dodged a bullet a couple of years ago heading back to Perth after visiting some friends down South. During busy periods, there are a couple of bottlenecks both before and after Mandurah, so it’s a conga line of slow crawl in some sections and then getting back up to speed in others.
One guy in a smaller sports car was constantly ducking from lane to lane trying to get ahead but he eventually timed it wrong on a straight stretch. The higher view in the Disco meant I saw the brake lights start on all the cars in front and I backed off just as he ducked in front of me. Being lower, he didn’t see the traffic slowing and plowed into the car in front when the car in front suddenly stopped moving. I missed him by inches. Now I leave just that little more room in front. It’s always better to learn off someone else’s mistakes if you can help it!
So when that happens to the fully autonomous vehicle,as it will,the brakes are applied instantaneously causing a pile up.[bigsad]
As i have said before,the biggest issue with autonomous vehicles that are currently on test on normal roads is them getting continually hit up the bum.
They are reacting to an issue caused by a driven vehicle.
Another reason there is not much chance of them ever being on roads with driven vehicles,cyclists,etc.