No matter where you are, always always remember to drive defensively. For example, when you¹re traveling through an intersection, check it out as you approach. Looking to the left and right as you approach might allow you to spot a vehicle, ignorantly blazing through the intersection, about to T-bone your vehicle. And remember the old advice from drivers training; Cover your horn. Be ready to go with the horn at any moment. If you¹re vehicle has a wimpy sounding horn, replace it with something loud!

It takes concentration
It¹s crazy out there but if you¹re like me and Todd you¹ll actually miss the craziness when you leave. The amount of weaving in and out of traffic becomes almost fluid. Cutting in front of someone to merge into traffic is generally accepted but be polite about it. And depending on where you are, driving on the shoulder (if one exists) might even be OK. One nice thing, unlike driving in the US and Europe, people don¹t get mad unless you do something stupid. Slow, fluid movements are they key. Jerky, fast lane changes are not advised. No need to be offensive either. Defensive driving is the key. Accept that your vehicle¹s personal space will frequently be invaded. That is, the space around your vehicle is available for anyone to inhabit. Sometimes the distance can be measured in centimeters so I¹ll reiterate, no jerky movements. But don¹t be in a rush to "do as the Romans." Remember, you are sharing the road with skilled experts whose instincts have developed over many years of offensive driving. When describing the truck drivers in Pakistan, Don Jones said, " They will pull out in front of you and run you off of the road." Then he put it in terms I could understand and said, "They are every bit as cunning as a Software Engineer." It took an incredible amount of concentration to drive in China, Nepal, India, and Pakistan. There are so many things on the road to avoid, just listen to the roads described in our October 21st journal report .

At first
We¹re not talking Interstate 80 where you set cruise control at 75

Most travel books contain driving tips. They vary from country to country. The Lonely Planet book for Pakistan had a section entitled, Driving in Pakistan that explained some invaluable norms of travel for this country. And speaking of norms of travel, realize that differently places have different conventions and gestures that you might want to follow. For example, in Mexico, a vehicle wishing to pass another will signal a left turn. The vehicle being passed then signals to the left if the road ahead is clear for the passing vehicle or to the right if it is not clear. Here¹s a really strange convention. Oncoming vehicles (trucks mostly) will signal a left-turn when they think it is safe for you to pass. Use your best judgment when trusting such conventions and don¹t try them out unless driving conditions and weather are safe. I have been passed by a semi-truck at night, rounding an uphill corner, in the rain so don¹t presume other drivers are good ones. Drive defensively.