Driving in Australia
Moving Right and Driving on the Left
Apr 11, 2009 Michael Kozlowski
In case you were unaware, Australians drive on the left side of the road, right hand drive vehicles, same as England and half a dozen other countries. You might be amazed to find out just how much your ability to keep a vehicle between a couple of lines can be affected by moving 4 feet to my right. You will likely have to take an extra moment to figure out just where you are supposed to be to make a turn and don’t be surprised when you scuff a few curbs while trying to park.
Using Road Maps in Australia
To add to the driving dilemma you are already facing, it is a common theme throughout Australia that when you stick a name on something, you use that name for as many different things as you can. Bill Bryson comments quite humorously on this phenomenon in his book, Down Under. You might imagine a meeting of the Transportation authorities going something like this:
“Hey mate, what say we call this bit of water “Bob’s Stream’”.
“Right-o! But we’ll need to christen a Bob’s Street, Bob’s Road, Bob’s Avenue, Bob’s Highway, Bob’s River, Bob’s Drainage Ditch and Bob’s Footpath, to keep things square.”
“No worries! And just because, let’s make sure that some of them are far apart and some very close together to make things confusing.”
“Good on ya!”
Using a Grocery Cart
Mobility issues seem to extend beyond the highways. If you are spending extended time in Australia you will likely visit a grocery. Upon grabbing your shopping cart you will almost assuredly put it back in favor of another because it’s wheels are screwed up (common enough among the world’s grocery cart population). However, you will soon realize that it is not a faulty wheel, but a faulty design. Four independent wheels cause the cart to move in any manner of unplanned direction. Meanwhile, you have to keep the “rules of the road” in mind for passing people on the correct side of the aisle (which will be the left, same as when in a vehicle) and to avoid head on collisions.
How Roundabouts Work
It wouldn’t be fair to leave out some positive of driving in Australia. After you have at least a passable feel for driving and are getting about regularly, you will almost certainly come to enjoy the roundabouts. Roundabouts are essentially four way yields. You enter a roundabout and have the option of making an immediate left, continue in the circular path and making a left that actually sends you on in the direction that you were heading when first arriving at the intersection, moving further through the roundabout and making a left that results in having you going in the direction that you would have been had you made a right when arriving or, finally, going all the way around and back in the direction you came from.
It sounds rather confusing, but it actually manages to keep traffic moving quite well. The cars in the roundabout have the right of way and you have to enter the intersection whenever you are able, but you will get the hang of that quickly. Before long you will feel like Mario Andretti as you weave through the intersections.
Driver License Requirements in Australia
Driving in Australia is not for the light hearted. It will take a bit of time for you to become really comfortable with it. Driver’s are generally courteous and a lengthy driver’s education program ensures that they are ready for the road. As a visitor you can drive on your U.S. license for up to three months, but if you plan on staying longer, you will need to get a local license.
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