Indonesian Traffic Rules

It’s been a long, hot day in Indonesia and I’m afraid I simply cannot write an interesting blog about the rest of my Sumatra trip today. But since I promised a post, hopefully this will tide you over. The conclusion of Sumatra will be up in the next few days.

When to Honk in Indonesia

• going around a curve
• passing a friend
• passing an enemy
• an animal or person is in, next to, or anywhere near the road
• passing schoolchildren or a schoolyard
• someone yells anything at you
• someone waves, nods, raises eyebrows, or otherwise motions to you
• a child throws or shoots something at you (I think it was a spitwad)
• you want people to see the tourist in the vehicle
• if a taxi is passing a pedestrian he may honk to let the person know there is an empty cab approaching, even if there is a line of taxis ahead all honking and the pedestrian obviously doesn’t want a ride
• if ever in doubt, honk

When to Frantically or Continuously Honk in Indonesia

• getting close to, passing, or having just past a person, car, or animal in, next to, or anywhere near a road
• someone is honking frantically or continuously at you
• a person in the road, or partially in the road, hasn’t gotten out of the way by the time you have a 10 second distance between them and your vehicle — continue honking as you pass them for as long as you see necessary

Honking at Night

• if in a city, operate your horn as if it is day time
• out of big cities, try to be considerate of the sleeping families around you, but either repeatedly flash your high beams or simply leave them on high when approaching another vehicle so you are sure they will see you
• when approaching a vehicle, turn your blinker closest to that vehicle on. just in case they don’t see your blinding headlight they will be sure to make out your blinker and thus realize there is a vehicle approaching

Originally published 29August2007