Road rules are very different in other places around the world. Kenyan drivers are quite aggressive and any rules that exist seem to be mere suggestions. I’m remembering that this is not the case in the U.S.
I was driving up from Amarillo to Liberal and took a right turn after stopping at a red light. Rubes was quick to tell me, “I’m pretty sure that was illegal.” I didn’t believe her at all and even twenty minutes later asked her about it again. She’s certain I am wrong. I have no idea.
The light turned red and a motorcycle in front of me stopped. I stopped and then proceeded to go to the right of it and turn. There was no turn lane, as such, but there was plenty of space and it’s not like I went up on the curb (like many would’ve done in Kenya).
When I was in Michigan I went to a great little tea shop a friend told me about. As I parked my car on the right side of the narrow street near the stop sign I wondered if that was legal. I had absolutely no idea. But I parked there anyway and sat near a window where at least I’d see if I started to get a ticket or towed. Neither happened.
Re-entry has been OK but there are definately things that are catching me off guard. Road rules are merely the start.
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June 12, 2009 at 9:00 am
Kim's Mom
Kim came home from Japan for a visit-years ago–and brought a Japanese woman with her. After many flight difugillities, they landed in Sacramento, and rented a car to get to the Eugene area. It was the middle of the night, thick fog, tired ladies, and as Kim pulled out of the car rental place, she couldn’t remember which side of the road she should be on. So she asked the Japanese woman, who had never been to America before! Before long, they met a car, and Kim decided she should drive on the right side. A bit scary.
June 12, 2009 at 9:36 pm
rubyslipperlady
I’m glad I’m not the only one! (I love that you’ve visited the blog, thanks! Hopefully we can all meet up again some day!)
June 16, 2009 at 12:01 am
Sarah
If it wasn’t illegal..it was at least most certainly dangerous..for those poor souls on the motorcycle! But here in Liberal…they’d give you a ticket for it…which tends to make me believe it IS illegal my dear sister!
June 16, 2009 at 7:38 am
rubyslipperlady
It was not dangerous, I was as far away from them as if there was a lane there. Sigh.
June 16, 2009 at 11:57 am
Daniel Sauve
I just stumbled onto your blog, and just wanted to say that I do the same thing all the time – whether in my car or on my scooter. If there is sufficient room to pass and make that right on red, not doing so just seems like a waste of time.
I’ve spend a good amount of time in Kenya too, so maybe I’m tainted as well. Haha. It never actually crossed my mind it might be illegal. And I’ve yet to be pulled over for it.
Good luck re-integrating!
June 17, 2009 at 7:13 am
rubyslipperlady
Thanks, Daniel. It’s not too bad but I’m wondering if the repetative ‘right! right! right! right!’ will ever stop ringing in my ears.
July 21, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Njoroge Matathia
“There was no turn lane, as such, but there was plenty of space and it’s not like I went up on the curb (like many would’ve done in Kenya).”
A perfect case of using your ‘I have been there, I know’ authority because you assume that you are generally speaking to people who will definitely believe you because of what they have heard of ‘Africa’.
Saying many Kenyans would go up the kerb is an exaggeration and you know it. Many drivers will switch lanes excessively and overtake on the wrong side but how many times have you honestly seen a private car climb onto a curb. (And that is assuming there is one to climb).
Matatus do it, yes, but are they representative of Kenyan drivers. Let it be said that in your small way you just misrepresented a country and its people and thus, in a big way, sold it short.
July 23, 2009 at 10:56 am
rubyslipperlady
Asante, Njoroge. I try to be very careful about not generalizing or at least saying that I am doing so if I do. You are correct. Nairobi has a lot of sidewalk areas but that I have witnessed several drivers of all types of vehicles pass on during bad traffic. However, the city has also been putting up blockades to stop people from doing just that and making it much safer for pedestrians.