Much of Somalia does not have traffic lights. The only cities that do are Mogadishu and Hargeysa (the two capitals). The rest of Somali is without any traffic lights. Yet, people continue to drive in every city. How can this be?? Well people here, like many parts of the underdeveloped/developing world, are resourceful. They don’t need traffic light to tell them how to drive. They have developed their own system of driving and of communicating with other drivers.
The steering wheel of the cars are in the same position as those in the UK but the people drive in the same lanes as in North America (on the right). All the roads have 2 lanes. If the person ahead of you is slow and you want to pass them, you “honk” at them thus establishing a communication with the driver to let them know that you are passing them. This “honking” system is also used when you reach an intersection. You don’t know who is coming from your left/right due to houses that are blocking you. Therefore you honk to let other drivers know you are coming and they should slow down.
People also use other methods beside the honking system. Lights are also very important. You use your high beams on the oncoming cars. This lets them know that you are sharing the road with them. The reason for this is that on the highways (2 lanes that go from Kismayo to Bayadhaba to Mogadhu to Belet-Weyne, to Galkacyo to Garoowe to Bososo to Las-Caanood to Burco to Hargeysa to Berbara to basically all of the country. This was something very POSITIVE that former President Siad Bari did for this country) contain some bumps caused by lack of maintenances of these highways. Because other drivers could be sharing your lane, it is very important to communicate with them that you are there especially during the day when your headlights are off or hard to see.
There are no police officers checking for careless drivers, no laws regarding seatbelt and no speed limit (which is not a problem because the road are bumpy and not paved which makes it difficult to speed on them. However, this does not stop reckless drivers from being reckless). Basically drivers are driving despite lack of roads and written laws/enforcements. Because people here are creative and are survivors, they are able to develop their own, unwritten, unenforced, informal laws, which allows them to drive anywhere they want. I don’t know how they do it but they are able to drive despite the odds and they are not complaining the slightest. Lets just say I will not be driving anytime soon while I am here.
The steering wheel of the cars are in the same position as those in the UK but the people drive in the same lanes as in North America (on the right). All the roads have 2 lanes. If the person ahead of you is slow and you want to pass them, you “honk” at them thus establishing a communication with the driver to let them know that you are passing them. This “honking” system is also used when you reach an intersection. You don’t know who is coming from your left/right due to houses that are blocking you. Therefore you honk to let other drivers know you are coming and they should slow down.
People also use other methods beside the honking system. Lights are also very important. You use your high beams on the oncoming cars. This lets them know that you are sharing the road with them. The reason for this is that on the highways (2 lanes that go from Kismayo to Bayadhaba to Mogadhu to Belet-Weyne, to Galkacyo to Garoowe to Bososo to Las-Caanood to Burco to Hargeysa to Berbara to basically all of the country. This was something very POSITIVE that former President Siad Bari did for this country) contain some bumps caused by lack of maintenances of these highways. Because other drivers could be sharing your lane, it is very important to communicate with them that you are there especially during the day when your headlights are off or hard to see.
There are no police officers checking for careless drivers, no laws regarding seatbelt and no speed limit (which is not a problem because the road are bumpy and not paved which makes it difficult to speed on them. However, this does not stop reckless drivers from being reckless). Basically drivers are driving despite lack of roads and written laws/enforcements. Because people here are creative and are survivors, they are able to develop their own, unwritten, unenforced, informal laws, which allows them to drive anywhere they want. I don’t know how they do it but they are able to drive despite the odds and they are not complaining the slightest. Lets just say I will not be driving anytime soon while I am here.
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