Kiwi ‘baffled’ Aussie drivers don’t do this

An expat has sparked a debate about road etiquette after she revealed the one thing Aussie drivers don’t do that’s left her “baffled”.

Kiwi ‘baffled’ Aussies don’t flash lights or wave as a ‘thank you’ for letting them into her lane. Picture: TikTok/sophie_nathan

A Kiwi woman has sparked a debate about road etiquette after she revealed the one thing Aussie drivers don’t do that’s left her “baffled”.

Sophie Nathan, a radio host from New Zealand, arrived in Sydney about a month ago — and since then she’s learned a thing or two about Aussie motorists.

Speaking from her own experiences, Sophie said she’s noticed Sydney drivers don’t flash their lights or wave when she lets them into her lane.

“Little question for Australians, how come when you’re out driving no one does the ‘thank you’ with the hazard lights?” she asked in a TikTok.

“In New Zealand, if you let someone in, it is courtesy that they do a little flick of their hazard lights, or you do the hand out the window wave. No one does it in Australia.”

She said she had repeatedly given Sydney drivers space to merge into her lane and claimed not one had given her a single ‘thank you’ wave.

Kiwi ‘baffled’ Aussies don’t flash lights or wave as a ‘thank you’ for letting them into her lane. Picture: TikTok/sophie_nathan

Sophie Nathan. from NZ moved to Sydney a few months ago and said she’s yet to experience a Sydneysider gesturing ‘thank you’ to her. Picture: TikTok/sophie_nathan

“I let people in because you know, it works in roundabouts, I hope someway someone will let me in.

[But] yet to happen in Australia.

“And I don’t do it because I’m a good person I do it purely for the thank yous (sic),” she said, asking: “Is it not a thing here?"

Aussies were quick to weigh in, telling Sophie that flashing lights was usually reserved for warning people about nearby police — or as a way to signal someone can merge in front of them.

“Hazard lights are to let people know cops with speed cameras,” one Aussie said.

“We do that here for cops ahead,” another added.

While many said waves indicate a ‘thank you, they agreed it’s “rare”, particularly in Sydney.

“That’s Sydney for ya,” one Aussie wrote.

“It used to be a thing, not so much anymore,” said another.

“In Sydney you get nothing. It use to be a wave/hand raise, but people here too aggro so think you’re flipping the bird … so nothing,” a third person agreed.

But not all Sydneysiders agreed.

“Most people wave in Sydney but definitely not everyone. Guess you’ve been unlucky,” one person wrote.

“I’m a waving Sydneysider,” another hit back.

Those in Melbourne were quick to say they engage in the wave act.

“Yes we absolutely do! well here in Melbourne we do … not so much the hazard lights but definitely a wave at the very minimum,” a Melburnian wrote.

Another said it “all depends on your age”.

“I always put the hand out the window,” they wrote.

Others said when they do it, it’s in front of the rear-view mirror.

“We wave- at our rear view mirror so look to the middle of the car in front and you should see it,” one Aussie told Sophie.

“We definitely wave but in the rear view mirror. We never blip the hazard lights,” another added.

Meanwhile, one person said if they don’t get a ‘thank you wave’, they wave back aggressively “until they acknowledge me”.