An Australian expatriate residing in the United States has pointed out a particular driving practice that many Americans tend to overlook.

Musician G Flip ignited a lively yet puzzling conversation by highlighting that American motorists seldom engage their handbrakes when parking.

In a video, G Flip, who uses they/them pronouns, remarked, “As an Aussie living in the US, one of the stark contrasts I’ve observed is in driving habits – particularly the etiquette and rules of the road. It seems in the US, handbrake usage is quite rare.”

“Back in Australia, we make it a habit to use the handbrake every time we park, whether it’s at the mall or even on flat ground,” they explained.

“Here, it appears that handbrakes are only employed on inclines or slopes. In Australia, however, activating the handbrake is a requirement during our driving tests whenever we park.”

Many Americans point out that most vehicles in the US are equipped with automatic transmissions, where setting the car to ‘park’ is often deemed more reliable than using the handbrake. Meanwhile, in Australia, utilizing the parking brake is essential to prevent the car from rolling away.

Aussies were stunned by the revelation, with one writing: ‘What do you mean they don’t use handbrakes?!’

‘How do people not use their handbrake to park, that’s blowing my Aussie mind,’ another shared. 

Singer-songwriter G Flip sparked an amusing yet confusing discussion after sharing that American drivers hardly ever use their handbrakes when parking their cars

Many Americans came clean, with one sharing: ‘I don’t know where my handbrake is.’

‘I’m 38 and have never once used a handbrake, I don’t even think my car has one?!’ one said. 

‘The handbrake confused me so much when I got here (Australia),’ another added.

And they weren’t the only country to avoid using handbrakes.

‘I’m a Canadian in Australia and my Aussie partner is always putting the brake on and I never do, we don’t really use it in Canada either unless we’re on a hill. I can’t get used to it,’ one shared.

‘I’m in Canada but I think I’ve used my handbrake like… once or twice in my life,’ another added.

Another culture shock G Flip shared was American drivers don’t wear seatbelts.

‘That’s one of the first things I noticed,’ they said. 

‘We’re in Australia we’re always wearing our seatbelts. Obviously the police in the US have a lot going on, there’s guns and there’s a lot more crime.

‘In Australia, there’s no guns and the crime rate’s quite low. Our streets and roads are heavily policed.’

According to Americans, most cars in the US have automatic transmissions, and putting it in ‘park’ is considered more secure than using the handbrake. In Australia, it’s mandatory to apply the parking brake to prevent the car from rolling

G Flip has been living in the US after marrying former Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause

The singer – who has been living in the US after marrying former Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause – said there’s hardly any speed limit signs in America.

‘In Australia, every couple of 100-metre or something, there’s a sign that tells you what the speed limit is,’ they said. 

‘Here, everyone basically just goes f***ing rogue over and goes whatever speed they want, especially on a freeway. It is like Grand Theft Auto. 

‘People are just going through all the cars, changing lanes, changing four lanes, and it’s the motherf***ing wild west.

G Flip said they were stunned to learn drivers can turn right on a red light. 

‘And if you don’t do it, you get beeped,’ they explained. 

‘In Australia, you can’t be going. When there’s a red light, you can’t f***ing drive through that. That’s a no no.’

Finally, they said American drivers are required to pay for petrol first before filling up the tank.

‘When you go to get petrol in Australia, you fill up the gas tank and then you go in and pay,’ they said. 

‘But  in America, you have to pay first, and then you get the fuel. In Australia it’s the other way around, which doesn’t really make sense, but I guess we’re really trusting.’