| Remember
: Traffic in Nepal –
between amiable, chaotic
and deadly
In Nepal
you drive on the left
side, like in England
or India. In general you
will need strong nerves
and a lot patience for
motorbike riding in Nepal,
also a lot of circumspection
and the ability to forget
completely what you ever
learned about traffic
and its rules. Nevertheless
this does not mean that
there are no rules. Of
course there are rules,
but a bit different to
those we use. You may
have a first impression
like there is a funny
kind of anarchy on the
streets. Sorry, but his
is definitely wrong. It
goes like this:
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Rule
One:
Priority is given first
to the biggest or even fastest
vehicle around. So watch
out for trucks and buses,
which will have always priority,
especially while overtaking
or in bends. It doesn’t
matter where you are, whether
you are already overtaking
or not, you have to move
or leave the road. If you’re
lucky and the ditch is not
too deep, you can land in
a wet rice paddy. If you’re
not so lucky, their will
be a more or less bigger
rock. If you have completely
run out of luck, you may
have a free, nice (bunjee-)
jump into a river, but without
rope.
Who is only one millimeter
ahead of somebody else,
automatically will have
priority.
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Rule Two:
Don’t fall into the
illusion that a mirror has
any other function apart
from correcting the fit
of sunglasses or the jacket,
if everything looks cool
enough. Sometimes, they
are also used as handles
for the kids sitting on
the petrol tank.
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Rule Three:
Those at the back have
to watch those in front,
and anytime you have to
be prepared for the guy
in front suddenly deciding
to stop in the middle
of the street (e.g. to
make a telephone call),
to turn or whatever. If
you have any contact between
vehicles – as long
nobody gets hurt, just
smile, shrug your shoulders
and fine.
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Rule Four:
“Horn Please”:
this you can read on almost
every truck. If you want
to overtake or make any
movement while riding straight,
push horn, so maybe the
others will be a bit more
aware that you are close.
Many foreigners complain
about the incessant use
of the horn, but here somebody
only wants to tell you:
I’m here!
So please use the horn
whenever you make any
change in your distinction.
Pushing the horn is fun!
By the way: why do pedestrians
still have none?
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Rule Five:
If somebody comes towards
you, e.g. one your side
of the road, don’t
try to get eye-to-eye contact.
The other will interpret
your look, that you are
aware and ready to accept
his action, meaning that
you will move aside.
Avoid slamming on the
brakes and hectically
dodging, what is almost
impossible in the city,
because always somebody
is already there! Even
so, some others will do
the same, anyway.
One of the real advantages
of this kind of traffic
is the resulting slow
motion between 20 and
40km/h. So all are driving
slowly and everybody knows
– at least by the
horn sounds – who
is around. By the way:
only 20 or 40km/h are
surprisingly fast in this
swarm of motorbikes, bicycles,
microbuses, rickshaws,
cows, goats and buffalos,
three-wheelers, stinky
truck’s and buses
and crowds of people.
Besides the pollution problems
of almost all trucks and
buses, which blow incredible
amounts of soot into the
air, a major problem is
the condition of vehicles.
Even applying very low standards,
most of them should not
take part in traffic any
longer. Before getting on
a local bus, at least have
a close look at the tyres.
Motorbikes, as well as
other vehicles, are almost
always full. Three or
four on a motorbike will
cause no headache to any
policeman, as long as
the driver wears a helmet.
But keep in mind, even
if nobody insist on the
helmet law, always wear
a helmet. If you really
sure, that a helmet is
not necessary, have a
look in a Nepali hospital.
Best to bring our/your
own helmet from home,
the quality on the Nepali
domestic market are in
general very poor.
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