Central America
Have I mentioned I'm going to Central America? If not, many of you already know this. As per the plan, we're driving a 4x4 over some hairy terrain in some jungle back roads and tiny little towns. I've been kicking around the idea for a while that travelers need a simple breakdown or quick reference of differences in road rules between nations. I started looking at my destinations and here are some highlights from what I found:
- Three-lane paved roads have no painted lines, and provide excellent passing opportunities. Use care when weaving through oncoming traffic.
- The driver of any passenger vehicle smaller than a minibus who allows himself to be passed by a chicken bus will receive a written warning for the first offense, and will have his driver's license suspended for a period of six months for each subsequent offense.
- Slow down for stop signs.
- Speed limits in urban zones are determined by the space between speed bumps. After passing a speed bump, you are required to proceed to the next speed bump as fast as your car will allow. Drivers failing to reach their vehicle's maximum velocity between speed bumps may be subject to a fine for obstructing traffic.
- If anyone is broken down by the side of the road, stop to help.
- If another motor vehicle is in front of you, you are required to pass it. It does not matter if you are both traveling well above the posted speed limit as it is, you must pass. It does not matter if there is oncoming traffic, you must pass.
- Two-lane paved roads have either a solid painted line down the middle, or a line of dashes. The line of dashes indicates that you must pass immediately. The solid line means pass with caution.
- In case of accident, all parties are required to hide from police until they are able to engage legal representation. Any driver found by police at the scene of an accident will be jailed without legal representation pending completion of the investigation of said accident, and before being released will be required to pay whatever amount in damages is demanded by the attorney or attorneys of any driver or drivers who had succeeded in hiding from police.