Re: trafic deaths in the past 5 months
None of the above surprises me at all.
So-called "helmets" are generally just a joke and even when they're not, have you noticed that most riders don't even strap them on properly? (They sometimes become useful for scraping splattered brain remains off roads,
if they can be found, that is.)
...Compared to the same period in 2007 the evidence is that Bali's roads may be increasingly dangerous.
(
Bali Discovery Tours) From my observations, it's not a matter of "maybe", more like definitely!
Only last night I was driving home along the By-Pass road in Sanur and spotted a local motorbike rider bearing down behind me at break-neck speed. There was a gap between me and the car in front of less than one metre, (
no exaggeration), and the fool took it! Nearly caused me to crash into the other car and the other car nearly lost it on the median strip. Now, I don't usually resort to "road rage", but I was so incensed at this person's actions that I chased him to the next set of traffic lights. They were red and unusually, everybody actually stopped. The idiot was right next to me and I berated his stupidity, was about to get out of my car to do something else and he took off like a bat out of hell. Lucky for him is all I can say.
I can't entirely agree with
Tina's theory:
...I think a lot of the contributing factors are tourists maybe with a little too much alcohol (any amount of alcohol when driving is to much) a little too much speed (anything over 20 kmp around Kuta Legian) and unfamilar with the roads. Then there is the normal amount of accidents with that much traffic and traffic jams on the roads...
Certainly
some drunken tourists contribute to accidents, but I doubt very much that they represent anything like a major contributing factor. I would go as far as to say that a lot of accidents involve drunken and/or stoned locals with little or no consideration for the safety of others. And they're just the ones that are over and above some "sober" road-users who suffer from the same lack of common sense and basic consideration for others.
My pet hates driving around here for many years include unlicensed children on motorbikes, (and, believe it or not, occasionally cars), and people who drive around at night with their lights turned off.
Some time ago, the government introduced a new rule that motorbikes are supposed to have their lights on from mid-afternoon. There was a lot of confusion regarding that, maybe something to do with a definition of when "mid-afternoon" is supposed to begin. As a result, there was a sort of amnesty for a while when police would simply caution "offenders". I hardly see any motorbikes these days with their lights on as prescribed so can only assume that the "rule" has been overridden (pardon the pun), or simply ignored because it's seen as being too inconvenient and wears out your headlight quicker.
Who gives a stuff about "safety measures"?
:shock:
the total damage is kinda funny though 70 something thousand,, scooters are cheap..... I will certainly be more aware and responsible next time, I dont like my head split open like a watermelon....or anyone elses.... enough said......
