We are fast, we are furious, we are Indonesian drivers and we dare to show it! Read the ultimate guide through rules of Indonesian traffic based on real experience, mostly on motor bike and don’t take it so serious 🙂
1. OVERTAKE
The first and golden rule. Actually I should write another guide about all possible ways of overtaking, maybe later 🙂
- overtake immediately you see a tiny space on the road
- overtake while you’re being overtaken, road has usually 2 lines, don’t hesitate and use them!
- overtake while you’re driving a long curve especially if you don’t see whether another car / motor bike / bus / truck is coming
- overtake even if you are about to turn – c’mon, every second matters!
- master exam: overtaking the trucks before hill is master level.
Experienced indonesian motor bike drivers are never stuck in traffic jams. Why? Because they overtake! Yes, use opposite direction, sidewalks or tiny little space next to the cars.
2. PARKING
Try to avoid to park your car / motor bike in spots created for this purpose. Instead of parking areas use sidewalks, roads or just leave your car in front of place, where you were supposed to go (even it’s highway with two lanes).
3. USE ONLY LONG-DISTANCE LIGHTS
More people you make blind, better! The most important thing is that you can see.
4. FULL GAS, FULL BREAK
The only right way how to drive is speed up with full gas (it doesn’t matter that you are driving in jam, but don’t forget to take advantage of 20 meters of free space in front of you) and then full break. Of course, overtake slower drivers because every second matters.
5. HELMET? WHY?
Wearing helmet is at least so useless as waiting for a green light. You are a master driver.
6. NEVER ALONE
It’s always more fun to drive with somebody, isn’t it? Try to take at the same time at least 3-4 friends, family members or whoever and don’t forget to to apply point 5.
7. NO TURN SIGNALS
Anyway, nobody cares ’cause people ride their own race. For better effect, apply point 1.
8. MIRRORS?
Master drivers are focused on a speed, not checking mirrors.
9. WHEN TURNING TO YOUR DESIRED LANE …
… use opposite direction to find a perfect gap to pass and meanwhile block as many other drivers as possible. Going across the road and then turn to your line doesn’t make sense at all.
10. AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
Let the kids enjoy childhood playing with the best toy ever – scooter.
P.S.
Remember: if you’re white and trying to follow the rules known all over the rest of the world, you’re the one to blame! Sorry Mister!
4 Comments
The Nusa paradise: Nusa Lembongan | The One Who Wanders
30. November 2015 at 15:19[…] you need to climb steep road) and of course without helmets, so we could improve proficiency in driving indonesian way By scooter we travelled around entire island within 1 day. There are almost no cars, roads are […]
Tumpek Landep: ceremony for every driver | The One Who Wanders
13. December 2015 at 17:52[…] especially cars and motorbike, which is more than appropriate as everyday we try to survive in this crazy traffic. Roads were full of cars and motorbikes decorated with colourful offerings are called […]
Kultúrny šok v Indonézii: 15 tipov, ako predísť faux pas | The One Who Wanders
27. April 2017 at 23:43[…] Neoplatí sa snažiť pochopiť ju, pretože nemá pravidlá, ľudia tu bezpečnosť a pravidlá cestnej premávky nepoznajú ani z obrázkov. Zápchy, jazda v protismere, šialené predbiehanie – to všetko k miestnej doprave neodmylisteľne patrí. Stačí jazdiť svojím tempom a nepreceňovať svoje schopnosti. Nie je to nič, na čo by ste si nezvykli po pár dňoch. […]
Indonézia: 24 otázok a odpovedí o všetkom, čo musíte vedieť
27. April 2017 at 23:43[…] chúlostivá otázka. Vôbec nepreháňam, keď dopravu nazvem šialenstvo, ktoré nemá pravidlá, viď môj starší článok. Mierne sarkastický pohľad som spísala do tohto […]