As an Australian, I happily wear the reputation of being laid back. But whilst that title may capture the collective temperament of the Australian population, it doesn’t also mean that we are too relaxed to care about anything. We happily uphold a civilized nature where rules are kept and manners obliged.

It is hard for me to say the same about Israelis. Queues for the bus look more like a free for all rugby scrum and most retail employees make you feel guilty about buying something from their shop. But nothing epitomises the complete lack of order and disdain for the rules more than the way Israelis drive.

Its like taking that free for all rugby scrum of people trying to get onto the bus and putting them all into cars and telling them to drive to the same place. Its absolute mayhem! Speed limits are ignored, overtaking on a curve is acceptable and tailgating is basically a national sport: seeing who can get the closest to the car in front of them.

But of all the things that I’ve witnessed or been a part of whilst on the roads here in Israel, the thing that has defied my understanding the most is how the drivers wait until the last second to change lanes before needing to turn. They will spend 5 kilometres sitting in the left lane, probably tailgating someone the whole time, and only in the last 15 metres before their turn will they get into the right lane to be able to turn right. This is almost always accompanied by the obligatory beep from the car behind them or the yelling of some Hebrew profanities. I mean seriously, if you know you’re going to be turning right, get in the right lane.

What is amazing however is how calm they all are when this is going on. When someone is being tailgated or being overtaken on a bend or changing lanes at the last second, they are probably also reaching for the radio dial to turn up Galgalatz to listen to the latest from Mosh Ben Ari. Whereas I, the laid back Australian, am reaching for something to hold onto to quell my anxiety or trying to signal an apology to the driver that we have probably just cut off.

And I guess it shows that for all the aggression that Israeli’s are famous for, they are also very relaxed. Sure it might not be expressed when dealing with customers or lining up for the bus, but its good to know that in situations where I might be freaking out, I can look to the calm Israelis around me to assure myself that everything is ok.