Did several work assignments in Asia in the 1980s.
Got assigned a work vehicle in Taiwan. I was asked if I wanted a chauffeur but I decided to drive myself. It was different. I wrote a small brief on what I'd encountered in Taiwan as both driver and taxi passenger and actually had it published in WHEELS magazine.
In South Korea had no choice. Chauffeurred everywhere. Wasn't even recommended to take the local taxis. It was more to do with being protected as most locals thought that being a round-eye I was US military as hence needed to keep a low profile.
I was told Taipei only existed to make Seoul look good as Taipei at the time had the worst driving in the world and I experienced it firsthand. Thailand was apparently moving upwards (downwards?) to overtake Taiwan at the time.
But when you count up the numbers of drivers and vehicles,
compared to our puny numbers. and the accident counts
in relation to.
We are NOT very good.
Gawd. Most Australians can't even Merge safely.
I rate Aussie drivers as some of the most unreliable, dangerous drivers in the world.
Too Inconsistent. You never know what they are going to do.
One thing those Eastern, and other country's do VERY well.
Is MERGE with each other.
Their traffic flows would show us a thing or two. at whatever speeds.
THEY Blend. Sometimes "suddenly".
Something most Australian drivers have NOOOooo Idea of how to do.
Jump in a Taxi for 10 min's in Mexico City. Lima. Bankok etc.
or any of those city's.
That's how traffic should go.
Yes. Some accidents. But in relation to. VERY Minimal.
Sorry Macca that's a complete and utter load of garbage, I have driven in a lot of places around this world including 2 of the ones on that list. The fact that people suddenly swerve from lane to lane, cut you off, overtake everyone using the verge or median strips doesn't make them more skilful it just makes them more reckless. In countries where they drive like that their road toll (if they could actually count it) would show that their luck will eventually run out. Currently here in Bahrain people are swerving all over the 3 lanes of packed freeways at 130/140kph through gaps just big enough to fit a car - you may think that this is skilful merging but I think it's bloody dangerous and putting everyone else at risk. Why am I passionate about it because unlike just making comments on a forum I have to actually go out there this arvo and interact with these nutters again although this is probably pretty tame behaviour when compared to some other places that I've had to drive in.
Other than Japan & Singapore, the other Asian countries that I've visited are manic. Interesting that the worst driving I've seen seems to be by drivers from countries that I've had bad experiences.
In Taiwan there was no right or wrong when an accident happened. It was the owner of the most expensive car who paid. I was assigned a Ford Sierra most others were 1000 cc Datsun Sunny. So people driving cheap cars push their luck when an expensive car is in their way. If you are in a taxi that crashes (and that happens a lot), just drop some money on the seat and run. You are at fault as the taxi would not have had the accident if you were not his fare. Railway crossings. Just line up the full width of the road when there is no median strip. Can have as many as 6 x 2 cars facing each other trying to merge into 2 lanes on each side when the gate opens. When crossing a road, look both ways has a new meaning as the cars maybe coming either way on the same side of the road. Never, never run an amber light. The cars is the side street watch for the amber light to glow to start. Not the green light in front of them.
-- Edited by RustyD on Tuesday 11th of July 2017 10:20:24 AM
-- Edited by RustyD on Tuesday 11th of July 2017 10:21:17 AM
