I had my first experience of driving in Jamaica. It was a great introduction to the diversity of Caribbean roads as nicely paved highways transformed into bumpy dirt tracks in the matter of one left turn!
Driving in the Caribbean is a great adventure that varies from island to island. In Dominica most of the roads are either lined with thick vegetation or precariously placed next to a precipice or the sea. Many of theses roads are so narrow that some visitors have asked me if they are one-way streets! Rental cars have stickers on the dashboard reminding clients to stick to the left and blow their horn on the corners to warn oncoming traffic that may be out of sight around the sharp bends.
Keeping to the left is especially important to remember for those drivers who are used to driving on the right. I was a passenger in a car with an American driver who momentarily forgot this and we almost found ourselves off the road and in the depths of a valley - yikes. Unfortunately this accident does happen on an irregular basis so it’s always good to be extra vigilant.
Remembering to drive on the left is quite confusing in the US Virgin Islands. Although they do drive on the left, most of the vehicles are imported from the United States and therefore you constantly feel as if you are the wrong side. As a passenger I felt freaked out that oncoming traffic was going to drive straight into me!
On my first trip to Trinidad I was convinced that I had boarded the wrong plane. As we were about to land at night the view from the plane window was of bumper to bumper traffic; red and white lights in long rows like I had never seen before in the Caribbean. By day it was not much different and I was amazed at how much traffic is on their roads.
During that trip, a short visit to Tobago provided much welcomed calm. However on one of the days I watched as two cars on a quiet residential street were slowly heading straight towards each other with no space to pass. Instead of applying their brakes, both drivers put their hands on their horns and collided headlong into each other making for a spectacular yet needless crash!
Yes driving in the Caribbean is an adventure and I’d love to hear more about your experiences. Drive safe!
