If you are planning to travel around Turkey by car this summer -- you still need to be careful. Istanbul’s character changes drastically -- traffic becomes less but road repair increases. Be prepared for delays and detours because of road work. I was very pleased to see how progress is being made on improving the main road network between cities. For example, Bursa now has a nice bypass, and the İstanbul-İzmir road has been widened to a divided highway in most places. But out on the highways, sadly, there is still heavy traffic, speeding (as well as traffic police with speed traps), poor signaling accompanied by risky overtaking, potholes and unclear signposts, which generally make driving a challenge.
If you have been stuck in rush hour traffic you know from personal experience that it is not for the fainthearted. Fast jeeps, trucks of all shapes and sizes, old tractors and the occasional donkey cart or horse drawn wagon will share the same road.
Westerners definitely need to learn a different driving technique. Road rage is a problem in America and so people sometimes use their horn there. But usually it is not common. Certainly in other European countries it is outlawed. Turks use their horn to indicate all manner of things: “hurry up,” “watch out,” “hello,” “do you want a lift?” and so on.
Lane changing is very risky, even if you check your side mirrors and rear view mirror. Drivers do not always stick to the designated lane and may create a new one. Often they may even turn without signaling.
Motorcyclists add to the challenge: speeding up along side you on the left or the right and sometimes turning right in front of you. More accidents could happen than do. Some would say it’s fate that more accidents don’t happen. Others think it is luck.
Cyclists do not often wear helmets. The other day I was stuck in a traffic jam. I figured it was either road work or an accident. As we approached the problem area, I saw a young cyclist lying on the hot payment with a crowd of people trying to help around him and an officer trying to tell people to stay away. Really he needed medical attention but the ambulance had not been able to arrive yet.
Traffic lights have some interesting features. Lights count to the second! Many have been fitted with a countdown showing how many seconds there are till the light changes. This enables traffic near a green light to speed up to get through just in time before the light changes. Also jumping lights is common. The definition of a nanosecond in Turkey is the time it takes between the traffic light turning green and the driver behind you hooting because you have not moved yet. Drivers around you are watching the countdown and revving the engine ready to peel out on the second. Years ago my car was totaled by a person who ran the light just as it was changing so I am very careful about jumping lights. I was thankful I only had scratches and just climbed out the other side through the door window. The door would not open.
What about intersections? Knowing if the car is going to turn at an intersection is uncertain. Drivers do not always indicate if they are going to turn and they may cut across in front of you to turn. If they miss their turn they may enter the hard shoulder and back up to the turn they missed. Roundabouts are for the English. Most of us don’t really understand who has the right of way. I have not seen a roundabout here that flows as smoothly as the ones in England.
The moral of the story: In a Turkish car the indicator light rarely wears out -- but the horn is sure to!
Note: Keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
