Hacker News Reader

Comment by result2vino | Hacker News Reader

I just spent a few weeks in the US. I assure you that Australia is fine.

There is some kind of trope that goes “my $location has the shittiest drivers in the world”. The actual reality is all drivers suck everywhere in the world. Except me and you of course. We are obviously above average. (And there is some urban lore floating around that says “most” people surveyed report they are “above average” drivers)

I also think the same formula holds for shipping companies, cellphone carriers, and airlines. All airlines suck, all cellphone providers suck and all shipping companies suck too. Oh and banks too.

> The actual reality is all drivers suck everywhere in the world.

Some countries require much more training, have higher standards of vehicle maintenance, and have other cultural differences.

Did you know [1] that Germany, land of unlimited-speed-limit autobahns, has 3.7 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and 4.2 deaths per billion vehicle-km?

While the USA has 12.9 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and 6.9 deaths per billion vehicle-km?

Australia, with 4.5 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and 4.9 deaths per billion vehicle-km is in between.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-r...

Except I’ve driven extensively around the world and I’m not an Australian only being in Australia for the past few years.

I’ve driven the world most dangerous roads that’s my thing. Often you wouldn’t even call them roads.

I felt more safe on a goat track with a coach coming the other way and sheer drop at the side of the road or highway with cows in the middle of the road and chaos traffic than Australia. Even 150mph down the Autobahn felt safer than 110kmh on an Australian highway.

Every car journey in Australia I play a game, spot the potential accident ahead as someone nearly crashes or does something stupid.

Watch dash cam owners Australia, half of it’s avoidable but the driver drives straight in to it rather than defensively avoid putting themselves in a dangerous situation

It’s absolutely an attitude/cultural issue. They have a lengthy process to get a license however I notice there’s a preference of parents teaching their bad habits vs professional driver training.

12 per 100K in the US.

I wouldn't say Australia is fine but it is almost in a different ballpark. The frustrating thing here, in the US, is the ambivalence.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com