You know how it is. You are on hols and hire a motorbike or a vehicle of some kind to do some exploring in Bali. Getting around in Bali needs attention when you are driving and more so than when you are doing it in your home country.
Roads and lanes are narrower, the locals 'rule the roost' on the road, and there are livestock and layback dogs to contend with and not forgetting the traffic lights that sometime don't work. And, who could forget the people on their motorbikes with objects protruding out from either side, and that includes extra passengers. It sure is hell out there!.
I was reading a report that road accidents claim 3,,000 lives in Indonesia every year according to police statistics. Imagine, 3,000 people die for nothing on the road. Apparently most road accidents happen because of reckless driving and drivers ignoring traffic signs as well as the poor road conditions still commonplace in the country.
The capital city of Jakarta is home to an estimated 1.5 million cars and 2.5 million motorcycles. Like in Bali, in Jakarta it is common sight to see more than two people taking a motorcycle ride. This is apparently against the law.
There are many good reasons to hire a driver and one is to keep your sanity when driving around the island of Bali and especially if you haven't done it before.
But if you really fancy taking your life into your hands then Nick has compiled a great list of places where you can hire a motorbike or vehicle. And, if you need to know where you are going then have a look at the map guides for the various regions in Bali that Nick has compiled.
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Eddie-They aren’t “good” drivers they just drive really slow, if they drove the same way in the US at our usual speeds, there would be many terrible accidents. The rate of speed is so low (in Bali) that everyone has a chance to react & to avoid collisions. Most of the time you are driving 15 to 20kph with a top speed on a straight-away of 60kph in Bali. You just can’t drive fast there, due to duck herders, dogs, chickens, children, old people, piles of black sand & rocks in the road & of course the rice drying in the road, don’t want to drive over that! And lastly who wants to hurry in paradise anyway? You would miss all of the really interesting little details. Don’t hurry, be happy!
Cathleen.
Statistics speak for themselves. One can drive safely on Superhighways at any speed just as one can drive safely with the distractions of animals, pedestrians and potholes.
Its up to the skills of the driver whatever the conditions.
Well it seems that travelling by road (like almost everything else in Indonesia )is much safer than say….
Australia 2005 Stats 1636 Road Deaths
NZ 2005 Stats 363 Road Deaths
USA 2004 Stats 42,636 Road Deaths
Do the math … Per head of population Indonesians, contrary to startling headlines, are fantastic drivers.
For more fun facts visit…
http://www.driveandstayalive.com/info%20section/statistics/stats-multicountry-percapita-2004.htm
Check out Malaysia’s stats