Driving Tips for a British Driver Visiting Melbourne
British drivers will be pleased to know that driving is on the left hand side of the road in Australia and you can use you full UK drivers licence. But that is where the similarity ends. In Melbourne the driving will initially seem more aggressive than you might be accustomed to in the UK. This is due mainly to a different lane discipline when driving in the metropolitan area of Melbourne.
Many of the main trunk roads have two lanes in each direction but they do not operate like the dual carriageways in Britain. You need to get in the lane that’s most appropriate for your journey and don’t get fazed by a car overtaking on the inside lane – they are just going about their business.
The U-turn is also a deft skill that most Melbournian drivers have learned through experience, they are matched only by London taxi drivers. So be aware when you are pulling out on to a busy road that you consider that someone may decide on doing a U-ie when you least expect it.
The other driving experience in Melbourne, that to the un-initiated has the same buzz as a fairground ride, is the famous Hook Right Turn (or, ‘hookie’). This seems to be a unique feature to driving in the Central Business District of Melbourne. This is a special manoeuvre when negotiating a right hand turn at an intersection from a road that has trams running.
To avoid blocking the tramlines when pulling over to turn right, the driver must pull over to the left (when wanting to turn right). This means that they will be at right angles to the traffic going across the intersection and generally parked in front of two lanes of traffic – waiting for their light to turn green. Do not stall your car when in this position! When the light changes to green, go for it! It is possible for a British driver to survive this experience. Look out for the sign “Right Turn from Left Ahead”.
Don’t let these tips put you off. Take a deep breath and get into the flow. Melbourne is a wonderful city and Victoria is a beautiful state. Enjoy your stay!
The road sign for the famous 'hookie' turn