Kindness amidst chaos.

davita

Just remember Harryopal...if there is any accident it will always be your fault notwithstanding the obvious. For example...a couple of kids, hot-rodding on their motor bike, skidded and slammed into the back of our parked car. The father came and tried to blame my driver for parking in that location and wanted compensation for the broken bike.

harryopal

Yes, that thought is always there at the back of my mind. I recall an earlier post where a judge found a Bule guilty of a traffic charge based on the logic that if the person had not come to Indonesia the accident would not have happened. So how did you resolve the demand for compensation?

tel522

I agree ,I have heard it said by some locals here , even though an accident was caused by the local , that if the bule was not driving on the island there would not have been an accident , hence its the bules fault ! , ya a strange logic . Personally, I have a good insurance policy , of which I keep a copy in the car , I will let them argue it out local with local,

davita

harryopal wroteYes, that thought is always there at the back of my mind. I recall an earlier post where a judge found a Bule guilty of a traffic charge based on the logic that if the person had not come to Indonesia the accident would not have happened. So how did you resolve the demand for compensation?

My wife called her nephew.... a Colonel in the police in Bali...the guy ran. BTW similar logic in India...I heard that it's the last person to honk the horn that caused the accident.

Mark

Good observations harryopal, once you get into the rhythm of the traffic flow in Bali and understand the general behaviors, driving is not so bad. As for potential accidents and apportionment of fault, my strategy is a dashcam (front and rear) if driving and a gopro helmet cam if riding. And, as tel522 suggests, in case of accident where you are not legally at fault, just give the video to your insurance company and police and let them sort it out with the other driver.

harryopal

After six months driving in Bali I come to a surprising conclusion. Despite the heavy traffic chaos the local driving cultures works with amazing effectiveness and with an overall level of tolerance not found in too many places. If we were bound by the rules of giving way to the right or waiting for an opening in the traffic we might never get into the main road, turn or change lanes. The local driving culture has adapted so that the slightest gap allows for pushing into the road, other lane or making a turn. This of course was one of the first things I had to learn. I always make a point of waving an acknowledgement to the other driver or motor cyclist I am inconveniencing. So far this has usually been responded to with a nod or smile and I have yet to experience road rage or see it expressed by others. ( I am sure it will happen as there is no shortage of crazies in any society.) Pedestrians are respected as they step into wall to wall traffic and wave a hand to cross an impossibly busy road. There are still plenty of motorcylists or drivers who do insane things but at worst this seems to be met with a honk of the horn. My favourite irritation is on the few multi lane roads where at traffic lights motorists sweep up on the right turn lane and then cut across the lane to get back into the main road. With that I can't say I enjoy driving in Bali but I do appreciate the overall tolerance if not kindness of Balinese road users.