Today I gave myself and the passenger, and of course the other driver a nasty fright. Driving in Mildura, we had earlier commented on how the town roads have a sort of "backing out" lane added. But later on driving around and looking for some place, the GPS not knowing where to go etc. general confusion, I ended up driving on the wrong side of the road (to make a rt hand turn). My mind had assumed that we were traveling on a two lane road, i.e. two lanes separated by the dashed white line, and the opposing lane marked by a solid white lane. Luckily nothing came of it, I saw the on coming vehicle and whipped across.
I have always said we should be using two colors yellow and white strips to avoid this confusion. So yellow marks the outer lines of the road, I have seen this in other countries.
Here a continuous yellow line on the outside edge of a road means No Parking but I understand the confusion and we all make mistakes. Glad all went well for you besides the nasty fright. Cheers.
The fog line on left of roadway is an unbroken white line.
Driving in strange locales and following GPS/Navigator voice directions can be a little confusing at times.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
Today I gave myself and the passenger, and of course the other driver a nasty fright. Driving in Mildura, we had earlier commented on how the town roads have a sort of "backing out" lane added. But later on driving around and looking for some place, the GPS not knowing where to go etc. general confusion, I ended up driving on the wrong side of the road (to make a rt hand turn). My mind had assumed that we were traveling on a two lane road, i.e. two lanes separated by the dashed white line, and the opposing lane marked by a solid white lane. Luckily nothing came of it, I saw the on coming vehicle and whipped across.
I have always said we should be using two colors yellow and white strips to avoid this confusion. So yellow marks the outer lines of the road, I have seen this in other countries.
I have made the same mistake. Scary!
Saved the day by pulling off the road & waiting till all traffic had gone & my state of mental confusion abated.
Made me think that perhaps my driving days were numbered if I could become so confused.
I too have done that is a town out west in NSW. It had some strange 'lane' markings on basically a normal two lane road which was the highway. Even near where we stayed there was an intersection on to the highway which was odd !! I looked at it while walking and could not see the logic of it ? Hmmmm......
One thing that would make our roads safer and more user-friendly is a set of national protocols for road markings. Of course, it'll never happen, like road rules etc which differ from state to state. Road markings are left to the behest of local councils - those highly skilled bodies that do their utmost to discard logic and confuse us at every opportunity.
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
Funny how impressions of places stick but a couple of years ago we were travelling with friends through Victoria in 2 cars (without vans) when we drove into the lovely little river port of Echuca. Our friends who were in front became a little hestitant due to some road markings that are not used in NSW this caused us all to slow down including a local driver who was behind us, eventually we were overtaken accompanied by the usual horn blarring and rude hand getsures. After we parked in the old port area a middle aged, well dressed woman pulled up beside us, wound down her window and started calling us dumb "old farts" from NSW who were lucky that we hadn't done the same thing to a younger local or their response would have been more aggressive and maybe even led to us being physically harmed. Of course she was politely thanked for her advice and the level of tolerance that she showed towards visitors who were going to be spending some of their hard earned money in her town. I'm well aware that road rage can happen in any town in Australia but unfortunately when someone happens to mention Echuca that incident is the first thing that springs to mind - by the way everyone else that we met while we were in town couldn't have been more friendly.
Cheers
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Tuesday 17th of September 2019 08:47:42 AM
Here in Mildura, is the first time I have shared a railway line through a roundabout, an amusing experience. But yes road markings are so mixed up, but as long as one drives fully alert, and doesn't have the GPS giving wrong directions all should be well.
Been driving in Alaska the last few months . Getting back to normal. I used to scoff at some signs that say we drive on the left . Great Ocean Rd etc.. Yes . Lol
A little bit "off topic" but Alaska/Yukon - Excellent driving conditions and one of the most scenic places on earth ..no need for buses,trains or ships - just hire a car and go and do it......
Hmmmm......
