Driving on the streets of Singapore, when the left signal light of the vehicle blinks, this indicates that the driver wants to either turn left or filter in to the left lane. Similarly when the right signal light blinks, the driver wants to either turn right or filter to the right lane.
Of course there are several errant drivers who do not use signal lights when turning or switching lanes. Most taxi, lorry and private bus drivers are guilty of this, as well as a number of drivers who have become more complacent after having driven for many years.
Here in Bali, many drivers do not use the signal lights too.
As for drivers that do use the signal lights, sometimes the lights do not actually help but instead cause more confusion for other drivers.
How so?
For one thing, you see drivers who use the left signal light then turn right or the right signal light is blinking but they filter in to the left lane.
Some drivers are known to only switch on the signal lights after the have come to a sudden stop and are preparing to turn. Thus you sometimes end up breaking quickly behind a vehicle who is preparing to turn, and the signal light of the vehicle in front begins blinking only after you are stuck behind it with now way of progressing until the turn is executed.
Sometimes, you will notice that the signal light on a motorbike remains blinking even thought the rider is heading straight for a long stretch. In such cases, the rider has forgotten to switch off the signal light and this can cause some confusion when he/she does come to a junction where they have to turn or filters in to another lane.
Most puzzling of all is the use of both signal lights to indicate that they are heading straight. Yes, there are drivers in Bali that turn on both signal lights the moment they pass a traffic junction, continue to head straight, then kill the signal lights the moment they pass the traffic junction.
The first time I saw this happening, I was baffled as the use of both signal lights is very different in other countries.
In Singapore, a car that stops but is not parking at a road shoulder or side uses both signal lights as an indication that they are stationary.
In Italy and Belgium, drivers will turn on both signal lights as an indication to vehicles arriving behind to slow down as they are approaching a jam or slow moving traffic. It was used more as a safety aspect than indicating turning direction.
Never have I seen both signal lights used to indicate that the driver is heading straight! Perhaps for me, this use is an unnecessary redundancy since the norm in driving is to head straight, while filtering in to other lanes and turning are decisions that are taken when required.
This is just but one example why the S.O. always insists that visitors to Bali do not drive on the roads, not until they are accustomed to the insane driving on the island’s roads.
I have not yet mentioned how drivers here seem to think that as long as they can see in front of them clearly, they are safe. They fail to check for traffic coming from behind; suddenly swerve out from their lane to pass the vehicle/motorbike in front; fail to break gradually so that there is less incidence of being hit from behind; tailgate the front vehicle at high speeds; flash their headlights to indicate “Get out of my way as you are too slow”; driving in a zig zag pattern on a main road, as if drunk or under the influence of chemical substances; driving at 30 km/hr on a main road and holding up traffic; driving with one hand on the cell phone and the other holding a lit cigarette.
Thankfully too the driving is done byt the S.O. as he has more patience and forgiveness than I do. As it is, while in the passenger seat, I already bitch more than he does about drivers and riders who constantly endanger their lives and the lives of their passengers with their thoughtless and reckless driving.
However, if you think about it, there are always thoughtless and reckless drivers throughout the world. The only things that differ are the degree of carelessness and quickness of temper that the drivers possess.
In the end, driving is something that produces anger and impatience in people, all because everyone feels that they are in a rush to get somewhere. Yes, the destination is important, but the journey and how you enjoy it is equally important.
So would it not be more pleasant if everyone were to relax a little and just enjoy the ride?
