New Zealand radio host says Australian drivers are rude because they don’t flash their lights or wave when she lets them in her lane
New Zealand radio presenter says Australian drivers are rude for not flashing or waving their lights when she lets them into her lane
- Kiwi expat ‘baffled’ Aussie drivers don’t flash their lights
- Sophie Nathan questioned the lack of common courtesy
- Aussie road users said flashing was for speed cameras
A Kiwi radio presenter who moved to Australia is “baffled” by the fact that Australian drivers don’t flash or wave their lights when she lets them into her lane.
Sophie Nathan, who arrived in Sydney about a month ago, expressed surprise at the lack of manners on Australia’s roads compared to her home country.
“Little question for Australians, how come when you’re driving no one thanks you with the hazard lights?” she asked in a video she uploaded to her TikTok account.
‘In New Zealand, when you let someone in, it’s polite for them to turn off their hazard lights or for you to wave your hand out the window. Nobody does it in Australia.’
Ms Nathan said she repeatedly gave drivers room to merge into her lane and claimed no one gave her a single ‘thank you’ wave.
Kiwi woman Sophie Nathan (pictured) is ‘baffled’ that Aussie drivers don’t flash or wave their lights when she lets them on her lane
She added that she has never been offered the same courtesy either.
“Isn’t there something here?” she asked.
Australian road users explained that most motorists wave their vehicles rather than flashing their lights.
“We’re waving – to our rearview mirror, so look at the center of the car in front of you and you should see it,” said one.
Another wrote: “Nodding or waving of the head is common.”
“We definitely wave, but in the rearview mirror. We never flash the hazard lights,” a third added.
Aussie road users explained that motorists wave their vehicles and do not flash their lights unless to warn others of a nearby speed camera. Others pointed out that waving was more common in rural and suburban areas than in cities
Ms Nathan, who used to be a radio presenter in her home country of New Zealand, moved to Sydney about a month ago
“We wave left hand, look in their rear view mirror next time. You’ll find the thank you,’ said another.
Several users told Ms. Nathan that flashing lights were usually used to warn people of nearby police patrols checking people’s speed.
“We only flash our lights to warn people about speed cameras,” said one viewer.
Others told her that politely waving or nodding at other drivers was more common in suburban and rural areas than in cities like Sydney.
Ms Nathan’s has been viewed over 42,000 times.