Speeding and merging – the two huge differences between Adelaide and Melbourne drivers

When it comes to Adelaide and Melbourne drivers, two huge differences stand out, writes Lynton Grace.

Merging in Melbourne? Sure, easy. But ignore that speed limit, it’s just a suggestion.

Having just finished a road trip to Melbourne and back to Adelaide, the differences are stark.

MERGING

Drivers in Melbourne aren’t just going to let you in, they’ll slow down and wait for you to go. It’s bizarre. And welcome, but unexpected. SA drivers just aren’t prepared for that level of courtesy.

Cut to Adelaide, where – as everyone knows – trying to turn into traffic that’s even at a standstill is impossible. It’s bumper-to-bumper and you’d have more luck getting a coffee less than $5 than someone letting you in.

And forget about trying to merge safely. In Adelaide, every knows double lanes that merge into one just means you have to try to beat everyone else.

LANE CHANGES

So why do Melbourne drivers let you change lanes when you suddenly realise you’re headed for some sort of expressway that’s going to take you to Geelong inside of the other way?

Is it just the decades of driving on narrow streets? Whatever it is, Adelaide needs more of it.

Using your indicator to change lanes in Adelaide is just a signal for the motorists around you to cut you off wherever possible.

SPEED LIMITS

But forget about speed limits in Victoria. Apparently, they’re just for suckers.

Determined to stick to the limit the entire trip, we kept the car on the posted limit on every freeway and highway, and were constantly overtaken by nearly every truck and car.

So are limits just a mild suggestion? Or is there some statewide secret tourists aren’t let in on?

I haven’t gone and crunched the data on speeding fines for the two states, but just from observation, I reckon the majority of SA drivers keep near the limit.

FREEWAY SLIP LANES

While we’re on freeways, what’s with the Melbourne habit of cars using freeway off and on ramp lanes to try to overtake dozens of cars sitting in the left-hand lane?

It just slows everyone down as the overly courteous drivers just sit back and let them merge back in.

Now that’s behaviour Adelaide drivers would never accept.