In the Australian Outback, drivers follow some odd etiquette. How do they acknowledge other drivers?

As any traveler knows, customs, mores, traditions, and manners have a high degree of variance throughout the world. It can be quite an adjustment having to move from one culture to another because of etiquette. However, studying proper etiquette can help travelers adjust without major problems. In addition, learning about foreign customs can be a fascinating experience.

When driving through the Australian Outback, it is considered common courtesy for every driver to raise his left index finger from the wheel in order to acknowledge the driver of a passing vehicle. That custom holds true whether the road is surfaced or unsurfaced.

Here are some other facts relating to driving in Australia:

• In 2007, there were over 1,600 fatalities on Australian roads.


• There were over 14.7 million registered vehicles that year.


• Australia is home to the longest highway in the world, Highway 1, which encircles the country and comes in at about 12,200 kilometers in length.


• Because of the low population density in Australia, many of the roads, especially in the interior region of the country, are not surfaced.


• Most state speed limits are posted as being 110 kilometers per hour.

Generally, driving conditions in Australia are relatively safe and basically similar to those of other developed nations.

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