Things New Zealand doesn't have (Part 4)

Here's something New Zealand doesn't have that is actually quite cool. Unless I have been misinformed, there are no traffic lights anywhere on the west coast of the South Island. In fairness, this whole island only has one million people on it, and the vast majority of those are on the east coast, but still I think it's pretty cool that the towns don't have traffic lights. Greymouth has nearly 10,000 people living in and around it, but still, no lights. (They do have roundabouts.)

I wonder how people are able to pass their driving tests if they live somewhere that doesn't have much traffic or standard junction types. It's hardly fair to make them travel to another part of the country to take their test, especially since they will need a few lessons as well, but it's also hardly right to give them a full licence without having experienced the basics of "normal" driving conditions.

Mind you, I obtained my own driving licence in the UK without ever having driven on a motorway (because learner drivers are not allowed on the motorway) and was then expected to just know how to join traffic driving at 70mph/112kph or more (usually a lot more!) and be able to change lanes and deal with that speed with no experience or tuition whatsoever. There is definitely something wrong with that system. The first time I had to join a motorway, 13 days after passing my test and with nobody else around and no real driving experience apart from lessons twice a week, I nearly cried with terror...

(By the way, I have no idea if the west coast of the North Island, or indeed any other coasts, also have this paucity of traffic lights. Maybe my dear Kiwi readers can keep us informed.)