DRIVING IN COLOMBO-IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE

Road rage, it just takes over, I tell you!!!

Is it just me, or does driving in Sri Lanka mean you get your pressure up a few notches? Let me re-phrase that, many many many notches!!! It is just maddening out there in the traffic. Is there no way that you can actually have a peaceful drive back home after a busy day at work? Or from home to work?

Start of the war

Just picture this, you reverse your car out of your gate and then switch your air-conditioner and radio on, with the hope of cruising through to Colombo but just minutes on to the main road, the war begins with impatient drivers honking at your every move, tuk tuks over taking you from your left and busses just inches from bumping your car off the road!
Thus, road rage takes over. You become a different person out there. It is almost a violent streak that takes over your usually calm personality. All those profanities just come out as though they are day-to-day words!
You feel like tearing the hair off your head in complete frustration. After all, what else can you possibly do because screaming at the driver who just over-took you from the left, through a closed car, with your radio and air-con on, is just not going to be of much help, is it?
A 10 to 15 minute drive takes at least half an hour because you have to be extra cautious and not go beyond 20 kilometres per hour in order to avoid an accident!

Chaos rules, ok?

One thing I have learnt is that you have to concentrate on your driving, and in addition anticipate the vehicles behind you, in front of you, on your left and on your right! Then of course there are the crazy people crossing the road on the green light and in the middle of Galle Road during peak hours! And not to forget the bicycles which drive on the wrong side of the road at their convenience! It’s a jungle out there on the streets of Colombo.
The main thing you need in order to get by when driving is to be smart. You have to be a real smart ass and show the driver next to you that you are smarter than him.
You cannot show him your fear, because he is like an animal that senses your fear and will not hesitate to pounce upon your fear! One more tip, always have one hand on the horn. Boy, does it come in handy or what. Being a lady driver, adds to all this. So girls, remember, be ten steps ahead at all times and try not to tear the hair of your head, no matter what. Breathe from one to ten and sing along to some of Alanis Morissette’s Ironic and I think you should be in one piece when you get to your destination!

- Scibbles Galore