Comparisons: Part 2

Sydney Drivers Vs Dunedin Drivers – I’ve been in Sydney for seven weeks now and have walked enough kilometres during that time to have developed an opinion on which city has the better drivers. I have observed things like lane changes, indicator use, the regularity and reasons for using horns and most importantly speed. These are very busy roads and my walking includes morning rush hour (school drop-offs and work commuters) and as you well know a very distracted time for drivers.

While walking I am often using zebra crossings, and these commonly result in a 50/50 situation regarding whether or not I can step onto the road or the car still has momentum and/or intention of stopping. At least 95% of the time the car, truck or bus is prepared to stop and will wave me across (and I won’t step out unless I can see the ‘whites of their eyes’) and I will always give a wave of acknowledgement even if the road rules compelled them to stop.

Overall I believe Sydney drivers are significantly better than Dunedin drivers and this surprises me especially when you consider the extreme cultures and ethnicities that make up the population here. Compare this to Dunedin where we would have possibly triple the percentage of Europeans making up our driver base and far less of an international flavour in the mix we are very poor drivers.

Unfortunately the same positive comments can’t be said for Sydney’s pedestrian and cycling behaviour. They don’t like to share the footpath, they don’t like to make eye contact, and if you have made an effort (often exaggerated) to step out of their pathway they seldom even give a smile to acknowledge it. I do give credit to the elderly Asian community who do seem more aware, and do move if they see you coming (I suspect that this is possibly more as a result of years of racial abuse and they therefore are avoiding conflict). They genuinely seem surprised when I give them the ‘right of way’.  

My conclusion is that Dunedin is a friendlier city made up of people who can’t drive.