7.7.10 Planes, Trains & Automobiles (but really just automobiles…)

Generally, I’m not a big fan of cars. And other than the occasional taxi, I’m glad that they’re not an everday part of my life but I want to share some observations about driving here in Ecuador.

In America, using your horn is usually reserved for serious infractions or the occasional friendly greeting. Here horns are used constantly. The most common uses are to say: get out of the way! Or hello amigo! But cabs also honk at people loitering to ask if they need a cab, cars hundreds of feet behind me while biking honk to say “there’s a car very far behind you, watch out.” Honking is also of course, used for pretty girls, to get dogs and chickens out of the road, to wave to kids or to signal the arrival of the water tank delivery truck.

I found it highly ironic that as Peace Corps volunteers we were given all kinds of vaccines and preventative medicines but I am only able to fasten a seatbelt when riding in cars about 1% of the time. They simply are not used. I have not seen one child car seat yet in this country either. Babies and little kids are held on laps (I think most love the front seat view) and I’ve witnessed multiple women nursing babies while riding in the back of pick up trucks. Now while illegal in the United States, most volunteers will readily admit that riding in the back of pickups is one of their favorite things here (mine too). The best seat is on the outside edge of the truck bed while going fast on the highway, hopefully you can try it sometime in your life, just watch out for bugs and small pebbles in the eyes.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that traffic signals and signs are really just more of a suggestion than the law. Speed limits are up to the drivers really and rolling stops at stop signs are just fine. No passing zones don’t really apply when you have a slow bus in front of you and here you can make left turns on red. Cars also definitely do not yield to pedestrians or bikers. Looking both ways before crossing is a must.

Despite all this, I don’t see traffic accidents everyday, or hear about them all that often on the news. Drivers here also talk on their cell phones much less frequently than Americans, and they don’t eat while driving or apply their lipstick and other than big cities, roads are generally much less crowded. I’ve become much more relaxed about the seemingly lack of safety concerns while traveling in automobiles but still, anyday I’d prefer my bike…