Melbourne Survival Tip

So what do you think of when you see this sign:

No this is not some complex geometry problem, but a stoplight in Melbourne.  Metroblogging Melbourne has a great posting to decipher what is known as the Swanston St. Traffic Light of Death.  When I first moved here and came upon this stoplight I was the first vehicle stopped at the light and wasn’t sure what to do, but the honking drivers behind me got me moving and I just turned left to get a way from this intersection.  I have since figured out this complex light, but still hate this intersection.

If it isn’t wacky trafficlights to confuse you with there is also the infamous hook turn that has to be seen to be believed, but basically if you want to turn right you have to hang out in the far left of the intersection and allow all the traffic to go by before making a turn.  Like I said it has to be seen to believed and I just avoid these intersections because of how wacky they are.  Driving in downtown Melbourne with its wacky traffic laws, trams, and pedestrians sharing the street with you makes for some interesting driving.  That is why I often just take the train into downtown, its a heck of a lot less stressful.