Road Rules and the Lessons We've Learned

Number 1 Challenge Thus Far: Driving

The Northern Territory MVR gave us a Driver's License with no testing requirements! Think about it, we just hopped in a car and drove! All new laws, signs, cars and lanes! Very scary and dangerous. The first time I drove, my neighbor Veronica, knocked on our door and said "I'm going to the store and you're driving me". Thus was born an Australian motorist. Ah, the freedom...if only we had a car.

Thankfully, we received a loaner after our first week here - taxis were getting expensive. Funny thing is, the owners weren't in town at the time and had no idea it was being loaned. Their neighbor loaned it to us (and gave us lots of grapefruit and oranges from their fruit trees). That's just the way it works here and lucky for us! This is truly representative of the support given to all the newcomers. So we ended up with wheels and a fruit of the month club membership! When I saw it was a manual, I thought "oh great, as if driving here isn't scary enough". Cole said it was like being on a roller coaster, only not as fast! I was a bit jerky - hopefully I didn't do any damage to the clutch!

We recently bought a '94 Toyota 4Runner. A great bush-mobile! It has a RooBar - so when you hit kangaroos you don't do any real damage. We don't have a snorkel or a roof rack - although I'm voting for the roof rack! The kids miss the "electric windows". I miss my automatic transmission. You adjust.

Rule #1 - when you are driving a stick for the first time in 15 yrs, on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the car (shifting with your left hand), in a new town where you don't know where you are going...all children riding in the vehicle MUST be silent!

Wikipedia states:

About 34% of the world by population drive on the left, and 66% on the right.

It also states the following: (Note, I've added the lessons)

• Oncoming traffic is seen coming on the right side.

Lesson: Don't veer too far to the left while subconsciously attempting to line your body up with the left hand side of your lane.

• Right-turning traffic must cross oncoming traffic.

Lesson: There is no "right on red". There is, however, a "left on red" - we think. Maybe we should look that up.

• Most traffic signs facing motorists are on the left side of the road.

Lesson: If you watch for signs on the right, you'll get a ticket and/or hit something.

• Traffic on roundabouts (traffic circles or rotaries) goes clockwise.

Lesson: Just wait until no other vehicle is on the roundabout....way easier all around. Of course you tick the people driving behind you off but who cares, you haven't even learned to use your rear view mirror yet because you have to turn your head left instead of right. Oblivion.

• Pedestrians crossing a two-way road should first look for traffic from their right.

Lesson: Whether walking or driving, forgetting this biggie will get you squished.

• Most vehicles have a right-hand driver's position.

Lesson: Don't pay any attention to those that don't (the left-hand driver's positions in foreign lands). Seeing them will only screw you up and make you question your position on the road!