Rules of the Road

So one thing I forgot to mention about the Garden Route experience is communication between drivers. In the states we tend to either honk (in big cities like LA and Boston), fly the bird (in more rural places like Alaska and Montana) or we simply spout out curse words that in most cases are only heard by the passengers we are carrying in our own automobile.

In South Africa (and I can only say this because I don't know if it applies to a more broader context), drivers communicate in varying ways, much unlike those techniques used in the states. During our travels we never once experienced anger that we were behind a semi, which is the biggest peeve of drivers in the US- expecially when driving Hwy 99 between Eugene and Corvallis! The South African truck drivers make life so much easier because they will keep their speed, while moving their truck slightly to the side of the road so that passing is made easier. If the truck driver believes that the passing car might have trouble seeing around the truck, he simply puts on his turn signal, indicating that it is clear and safe to pass. Once the car passes the truck, the car puts on its flashers for approximately three flashes to say "thank you" and the truck driver does it back in reply.

What a curteous exchange! It made driving easy and safe, while eliminating much of the stress of driving in the states.

On another, driving related note... These are the "rest stops" while traveling along the highway. No toilets, but some shade and a place to eat. How African, really.