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It is not unusual for cars or bikes
to swerve into your lane without indication. A system of
"sharing lanes" has developed because there are often
obstacle on the sides of the road, such as parked cars or the
frequent procession of bakso trolleys and paraphernalia salesmen.
That's okay if you're used to it
but can be quite a shock to a new driver in Bali! Be aware that
drivers from side streets often don't look when joining a main
road and the larger vehicle is king of the road.
Quite often, red traffic lights are
considered "as suggestion" and there are a few place
where traffic in the left lane may turn or continue straight
through whilst the light is red.
Remember to sound the horn when
going around curves on mountainous roads as driver commonly drive
in the middle of the road. There are a lot of one-way roads in
Bali (meant to help traffic flow but it hasn't really turned
out the way). If you miss your turn off, you may have to drive
quite a distance before being able to turn back. This has resulted
in motorbike riders riding a few hundred meters in the wrong
direction as a shortcut rather than following traffic flow. So be
alert!
It is recommended to drive at night
especially on the road to Gilimanuk where the ferry to Java island
commences. Truck drivers to and from Java are notorious for
overtaking on corners.
Only a leafy tree branch often marks
obstacles such as pot holes or road construction. By the time you
think, "What is that for?" you could well be in a
porthole!
You can fill up at any of the many
government owned petrol stations or in more remote areas at stalls
by the side of the road displaying bottles of clear liquid. The
quality may not be as good as at the patrol station.
Hope that you will find this word
of advice useful and thank you has chosen Bali as your holiday
destination. Have a nice and relaxing holiday in
Bali!
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