By Aaron Cordy
ROLLING up to an intersection, watching the oncoming traffic can be an enigmatic mystery to test the stress levels of even the calmest drivers. Indicating at intersections is not always done in Shepparton, and forget about roundabouts, where it appears more common to witness drivers indicate halfway through their turn if at all.
It would appear many in Shepparton don’t know that if you are turning a corner at an intersection and a pedestrian is crossing the road you are turning onto, they have right of way. Despite the person on foot having right of way, they are often taking their life into their own hands expecting drivers to stop for them.
Another bad habit I’ve noticed in Greater Shepparton drivers have taken to is running red lights. While most in the area will try to squeeze through the yellow and red lights before the traffic in the opposite direction shifts into gear. But there have also been a number of drivers stopped at a red light, for no obvious reason, drive through a red when – but not always- the way is clear.
The Goulburn Valley has some of the worst roads in the country, but how often do local drivers slow down for road works? Whether it’s council workers mowing lawns along Wyndham Street or the ongoing road works around the district, many drivers don’t slow down and obey the temporary speed signs.
This apathy for road rules is shocking on the back of the 2023 road toll which took 14 lives in the Greater Shepparton area. Second only to Moira Council at 16. Staggeringly up from four and six respectively in 2022. According to Data Vic, there were 1,907 incidents on Greater Shepparton roads in one-month last year.
It appears many don’t know the rules, or is it just a few dragging the rest of the community down?
Are Greater Shepparton drivers, bad drivers?
