Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

[ohliz]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That must be the most thorough and accurate account of driving in Jamaica I've ever read! Must save a copy!


But yuh know seh mi ago for gi squaddy 10 bills fi NUTT'N!
Is one ting when you do it when dem issue ticket and indicate dem is so inclined. But you neva do nuh wrong at all at all!

Sounds like you had a nice trip still. </div></div>

Magix, we had places to go and people to see and they seemed inclined to keep us there looking for things we did not have...and the insurance papah...they were convincing that we had the wrong one!

Like I said, sorry I did it, but at the time it seemed like the only way to get back on the road to Portland...

[ohliz]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SistaCtry</div><div class="ubbcode-body">gwaan chroo OhLiz, Bizi, and Jitter,

i luvvv driving in Ja, its soo fun to me, i too enjoy it~ </div></div>

You feel me bizi

[Magician]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

Mi get stop two times last month.
One was a routine spot check in Buff Bay. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever driven thru Buff Bay without a spot check. Hand them car rental papers 10 seconds and we on the way to Porti.

Another time was coming down the hill from Mandeville just before you reach Porus. I was overtaking 5 cars at one time (alla dem draw brake when de road nice and wide) but de cars coming up flash dem lights tell me seh de Squaddie dem set up down the hill. So me get back inna mi lane, slow down to 80 exactly which was the speed limit and dem STILL pull me over!
&lt;everlasting kissteet&gt; cause now there's no good place to pass for miles and all these ppl will be ahead of me.

Well me know me wasn't speeding so me well confident, but still when dealing with police a yard is in my interest to put on a Yankee twang and gwaan thru like me jus reach from farrin.
Hear me nuh:

&quot;Good afternoon officERR!&quot; (Not Officah)

&quot;Going to KingsTIN officer&quot; (Not Town or KingsTON)

then he ask me one question that catch me off-guard
'Anything illegal in your car?'
[all now me forget fi twang an a bawl out..)
&quot;NOAH SAH!&quot;

De man look pon me an smile. 'Gwaan chroo sah. Tek time pon de road yuh ear'

[ackeepod]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

I drive on my 6 month stays and seem to handle it, but I definitely like coming to the US and having the ease of not having to white knuckle it. Negril is a crazy place to drive because of the route taxis. I used to let them know that I was angry with them by honking my very loud horn. Ted told me to quit it because I was going to get in trouble some day with the mostly male drivers. I have been called stupid, cussed out in patwa, and other discourteous diatribes yelled at me, mostly because I drive slower than they do, or because I stop for pedestrians or cars trying to merge into traffic. I am beginning to calm down after 5 years of driving in Ja, but it is still more stressful than in the US. `Would I quit driving in Ja? Absolutely not!

Ohliz, this is a very good post. Thanks for your efforts.

[ohliz]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Another time was coming down the hill from Mandeville just before you reach Porus. I was overtaking 5 cars at one time (alla dem draw brake when de road nice and wide)
</div></div>

You know I actually got stopped there too, sort of. I was following someone into Mandeville from that roundabout east of it on the highway, I believe to Porus, and the person I was following (who is FROM Mandeville) got pulled over passing (I was passing too, I was just behind him by a couple of cars and he has a big F150 truck so they didn't see me in my little Corolla).

The police tried to tell me not to stop, kept waving me to go on, but since I was following my friend who was taking me into a place in town I did not know, I stopped too.

No one got a ticket though

[Q3210]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

Beware, many drivers do not turn on lights at dusk nor dawn, through fog in Linstead or Moneague.
Look out for those exiting or turning off in front or behind you without indicating with their blinkers.
Look out too for double parkers, stopping abreast another vehicle conversing without a care about who`s coming or going.
Then those who have their headlights on bright not a care in the world if they`re blinding approaching drivers.
However, if in a precarious position or just wanting a bly, most driver will allow you to enter or switch lanes unimpeded.

[ohliz]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

True Q, I noticed many drivers didn't put headlights on until it was all the way dark, and then often, brights

[Q3210]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

Way far too many Ohliz. Goes to show you the type of awareness that is shown. I see it as a reflection of selfishness exhibited by so many especially the younger generation.
Aware users of the road not only think of themselves but of others who use lights for navigational assistance other than just allowing vision immediately in front.

[ohliz]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

My car actually had auto lights that were always on when the car was on. Much safer.

[Magician]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

Certain countries (like weh me de now) need those automatic light-on all the time systems. These ppl ya drive a nite time with no lights on at all at all. Their situational awareness is non-existant and they don't even realise they have no lights on, or what danger they pose to themselves by doing so.

In civilised societies like Jamaica where the use of lights is used to alert others of police, and where if you leave your lights on ppl will flash you to remind you to turn them off (you lose out on the police alerts) it's better to drive with the lights off.

Like Q said, at dusk, it is common courtesy to turn on your position lights (the first step) for the benefit of others. When you require light to drive, you switch to normal beams for your own benefit.

[Sophie Magoo]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">$31 is that for the teeny tiny car weh fit 1 person?
</div></div>

no, actually it's a toyota yaris, seats 4 comfortable, only 300 miles on it . . .

[sistactry]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body">then he ask me one question that catch me off-guard
'Anything illegal in your car?'
[all now me forget fi twang an a bawl out..)
&quot;NOAH SAH!&quot;

De man look pon me an smile. 'Gwaan chroo sah. Tek time pon de road yuh ear'
</div></div>

u wretch u~~

[kethrinelopez]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

Thanks for this useful info.There are a lot of traffic fatalities in Jamaica.My favorite sign was 'Drive, Ride and Walk Good but i love driving in Jamaica, despite the fatalities and scariness.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Driving in Jamaica - my observations and experiences

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MGee</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-style: italic">i love driving in Jamaica as well, although i had a truly stressful moment in Pike one time cause i was on a piece of road that had precipice on both sides and i had to back off it (and driving backward is not my strong suit). had to dig down to find my nerve and hold it. </span></div></div>You've been to Pike?