Being in Victoria and reintegrating back into society after WFH since Feb, I'm finding driving quite annoying in that either I've forgotten what/how bad other motorists were or there's possibly been an increase in the amount of idiot drivers there are out there.
Can't eliminate the possibility that it's 'me' too, or that I'm driving less such that these occurrences stand out more, but I don't believe so as follows:
Example 1: I was involved in a near crash at intersection of Tram Road (Station Street) / Doncaster Road where two northbound right turn lanes exit onto three eastbound lanes. I'm in the left right turn lane so once the arrow turns green, I drove into the middle of the eastbound lanes. The driver in the vehicle next to me in the right right turn lane also finished their turn into the middle lane.
Our destination was both Westfield Shopping Centre car park where that driver accused me of doing wrong, that is, he claimed I was wrong as he (argued) that he was allowed to turn right into the middle and right eastbound lanes (optional two lanes on exit). I tried to correct him and say that he was wrong as a multi-lane right turn requires the vehicle in the right lane to exit into the right lane too. It was too hard to argue with an idiot.
Example 2. Another time, I' merged onto the M1 Freeway and the vehicle in the left lane speeds up to block my merge (it's not an additional lane, but bonafide merging movement). I avoid hitting his car and honk, which he doesn't like and then proceeds to play funny buggers by blocking and lane changing in front of me to block me etc.
Example 3. Just driving down Union Road and I see an on-coming car slow-down and pull kerbside to look at Christmas lights at a house. The car doesn't fully stop but once it passes the house, I see it veer into my lane (on-coming) so I have to slam my brakes on while they swerve back into their side of the road.
Many more similar stories in such a short time of driving back on the road. The words of my father echo in my head.. '.. when driving, assume everyone is an idiot..'.
I see quite often that people will drive wrongly but because so many people do it (in some cases for location-specific), that it becomes the 'norm'. Eg, my above example 1, most in the left right turn lane will dive into the left exit lane to access Westfield, leaving the middle and right lane for the right right turns to freely play, even though not allowed. I assume I threw other driver off by abiding by the road rules.
Has anyone else noticed any changes to motorist driving behaviours? Watching DASH CAM OWNERS AUSTRALIA did help me get over the incidents as it reminded me of how many idiots there are on the road.
Which vehicle was in front initially and what are the road markings at the merge point?