I made frustrating observation on our GC motorway and I wonder if that same apply to whole country or only locals are so dummy drivers.
Any time on motorway lines are merging from 3 lines to just two lines due to planned road works whole traffic grinds to almost standing still and cars merge at astonishing speed of 5 km /h.
Then after next few hundreds meters speed up againg to 100 km/h.
The most probable explanation for this phenomenon is inability to keep reasonable distance between vehicles, one tailgating so close another that if come to merging one has to stop to allow another to enter....
So be warn ! If you are going to our airport add extra 40 min on 30 min trip to allow unexpected (but permanent) traffic jam.
Should we introduce new warning plate beside "L" and "P" ?
"Q" that stands for Queensland dummy drivers ?
Happens here in WA too, I think its just a case of people not know how to merge and the usual sign posted speed limit decrease that comes with roadworks slowing people right down. Lot of people over here cruise down on to the 100kmh freeway doing 80kmh, that tends to screw things up a fair bit.
Roadworks.
You can see the flashing orange arrow from 1km away.
I am always bemused to see people panic and slam on the skids at the first red cone (about 30m from the actual roadworks) and then indicate to merge and expect to be let in. Can't believe they have lived so long when obviously not looking past their front bumper 
E plates are something I just cant understand- why are they issued at all.
As far as I am concerned- if you lose your license you should have to cop it sweet, learn your lesson and not have the option of E plates.
A company I worked for (years ago) had a sales rep that lost his license due to drink driving, he was expecting the boss to back up his application in court for an extraordinary permit- thinking that as he was such a great asset to the company (which he was) that the boss would go for it.
Boss told him to pull his head in, and gave him the choice of quitting, being put on leave of absense (no pay for 3 months), or hire a young driver for the 3 months of his suspension to drive him around- and sell lots more stuff to cover the cost of his driver.
Sales rep hired a young kid to drive him around, did his paperwork in the car with the time spare due to not having to drive, sold truckloads of gear and made lots more commission.
With probationary drivers having to rack up lots of hours of driving these days- perhaps the courts should stop handing out E plates- and make the offenders hire drivers?
stephen
^^^ That is actually a really great idea. Then you have a second pair of hands as well
I really like having drivers when I travel for work. Makes things sooooooo much easier.
I share your annoyance at late mergers. I understand why they do it even though there are signs kms ahead. They want to get as far ahead as possible before they have to merge. They just can't face the idea of slowing down and getting in the queue.
Having said that, the slowing down at a merge then speeding up after is simple fluid dynamics. It's what any flowing fluid does when faced with a constriction. Try putting your finger over the end of a hose to see it in practice.
it's actually much faster overall to stay in single file and drive at a slightly slower speed than to change lanes and accelerate ahead.
