DRIVING IN PERTH

I have always had problems with “left” and “right”. The way I could always remember which was which was by thinking about being in the car – “left” is the driver’s side and “right” is the passenger side.

It doesn’t work that way in Perth.

And to try to make it work that way doesn’t work either.

Adjusting to the steering wheel on the right side and driving in the left lane has not been as bad as I had anticipated. But don’t think that we haven’t had our share of challenges with it.

The first one is to open the car door and be shocked to see there is no steering wheel. (NOTE TO SELF: Do not panic. Thieves do not steal steering wheels and pedals. They are on the other side of the car.)

The next adjustment is that the turn signal is not on the left side of the steering wheel, but on the right side of the steering. We have found that when we try to signal (yes, one should use the signals when turning!) using the lever on the left side of the steering wheel, the windshield wipers mysteriously go on. (NOTE TO SELF: Do not panic and hit the lever again, it only makes them go faster. Use the lever on the right side of the steering wheel instead. Or, pretend you are in Houston and don’t bother signaling at all.)

I have discovered an additional new challenge to driving and it is called “parking”. Unless I want to circle the city endlessly I have to put the car somewhere. It’s not easy finding a spot, and even harder to put the car in the itsy bisty teeny weeny parking stalls. Often I am scared and have to close my eyes – usually only when John is driving.

Cars are generally smaller than our mammoth vehicles in North America. (They have to be to fit into the miniscule parking spots!) Lots of Hondas, Toyotas, Mitsubishis, Subarus, etc. There are also lots of very rugged outback vehicles with huge air intake pipe that goes up over the roof. They are called a snorkel and are for going through water in the outback. Or just to look cool.

We are renting a Toyota Camry – and it is now my opinion that they are HUGE cars. Especially when driving in the parking lots and parking garages. A Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit or Smart car is looking very appealing right now. Not too sure how happy Dawson would be strapped into the front left seat and not sure where John would fit – but at least I could park it.

Seriously, we’re looking at a Honda CRV. Prices are a LOT higher here than what we are used to, and very seriously, having sold our two cars will not even cover the cost of buying a Honda CRV! Don’t even go there! (Another blog topic to be covered later.)

Generally I would say the drivers are very courteous and patient. I have only been honked at once and no one has given me the finger. So this is a good thing. Basically I would say the people of Perth are relatively safe with me on the road (John is another story…..)