--Freeways are called motorways. Motorways run for 50 km or so, max, inside the cities and then peter out into local roads everywhere else.
--New Zealanders bemoan the Spaghetti Junction interchange between the 1 and the 16 in central Auckland as a horrifying example of dangerous urban traffic. As a 5-year veteran of Los Angeles, I find it remarkably well-planned and comfortably un-congested.
--Unless otherwise marked, the speed limit on the street is 50 kph. On the motorways, I feel like a wild speed-racer seeing my speedometer pegged at 100.
--People actually obey the speed limits.
--Roads are narrow. Take turns in the tight spots! Be aware of where the sides of your car begin and end!
--Parallel parking feels like a game of Operation.
--There are lots and lots and LOTS of roundabouts. The ones with one lane are easy. The ones with two lanes are a little trickier. The ones with three or four lanes...I've learned some tricks to using them correctly: careful observation of signs and lane markings, defensive merging into traffic, and saying a little prayer.
--Finding an address in the city requires a complex mental map, or a patient navigator in the passenger's seat. Urban planning on a grid? Ha! It's not like you can just track back so you had best watch carefully for the street signs.
--Street signs are somewhat haphazard. What, we're gonna put one on every streetcorner?
--Look to the right for oncoming traffic when you are turning. Americans are not conditioned to see hazards coming from that direction.
--Try not to freak out and think you're about to crash when observing the give-way rule. Maybe I'll get used to it by the time the traffic rules change to something more sensible.
--There are animals to avoid, even in the city. Pigeons are stupid and will just stand in your lane and stare you down. Pukekos and possums are apparently even stupider but not so belligerent. My first time driving, I had to maneuver around a goat.
--Gear shift: left hand. Wipers: left hand. Radio: left hand. Turn signal: right hand. Lights: right hand. Gas: right foot.
--Have some good jokes ready for when you unlock your car and settle into the passenger's seat for your commute, for the tenth time, and wonder for a second what happened to your steering wheel.
--New Zealanders bemoan the Spaghetti Junction interchange between the 1 and the 16 in central Auckland as a horrifying example of dangerous urban traffic. As a 5-year veteran of Los Angeles, I find it remarkably well-planned and comfortably un-congested.
--Unless otherwise marked, the speed limit on the street is 50 kph. On the motorways, I feel like a wild speed-racer seeing my speedometer pegged at 100.
--People actually obey the speed limits.
--Roads are narrow. Take turns in the tight spots! Be aware of where the sides of your car begin and end!
--Parallel parking feels like a game of Operation.
--There are lots and lots and LOTS of roundabouts. The ones with one lane are easy. The ones with two lanes are a little trickier. The ones with three or four lanes...I've learned some tricks to using them correctly: careful observation of signs and lane markings, defensive merging into traffic, and saying a little prayer.
--Finding an address in the city requires a complex mental map, or a patient navigator in the passenger's seat. Urban planning on a grid? Ha! It's not like you can just track back so you had best watch carefully for the street signs.
--Street signs are somewhat haphazard. What, we're gonna put one on every streetcorner?
--Look to the right for oncoming traffic when you are turning. Americans are not conditioned to see hazards coming from that direction.
--Try not to freak out and think you're about to crash when observing the give-way rule. Maybe I'll get used to it by the time the traffic rules change to something more sensible.
--There are animals to avoid, even in the city. Pigeons are stupid and will just stand in your lane and stare you down. Pukekos and possums are apparently even stupider but not so belligerent. My first time driving, I had to maneuver around a goat.
--Gear shift: left hand. Wipers: left hand. Radio: left hand. Turn signal: right hand. Lights: right hand. Gas: right foot.
--Have some good jokes ready for when you unlock your car and settle into the passenger's seat for your commute, for the tenth time, and wonder for a second what happened to your steering wheel.
1 comment:
You are so BRAVE to tackle not only left-handed driving, but strange traffic rules! I am so proud of you. Of course, anyone who is a 5-year driving veteran of Los Angeles can already do ANYTHING!
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