Driving habits

If you ever decide to drive a motor vehicle in Indonesia, do bear in mind that Indonesians drive on the left side of the road, like in most Commonwealth countries, but even if this is familiar to you, the local conditions, driving habits, traffic laws and road signs are not.

Traffic patterns are much like ours, but the unwritten rules of the road are somewhat different. They were, as near as I could notice:

• The drivers often ignore traffic laws.
• The largest, fastest vehicle automatically has the right of way; all others must get out of its way.
• Lanes? What lanes? The lines on the road, including the double-yellow ones, are merely there to give someone a painting job. They have no other function.
• Arbitrarily pull out in front of other vehicles.
• Passing with little room to spare (is the national sport of Indonesia).
• Tailgating to do when not passing.
• Seatbelts, they are absolutely unnecessary.
• Honk every few seconds to let other drivers know you’re there.
• Lights rapidly blinking can mean many things, including “OK to pass now” or “dangerous to pass now” or “get out the way”.