Bajan Drivers

I am licensed to drive a car and a motorcycle in Barbados. It was easy! All  I had to do was to take my current U.S. Massachusetts license to licensing bureau, pay $100 bds and voilà, I’m a licensed driver. However,  driving in Barbados is not easy at all!

I’ve been asked many times if I drive in Barbados, the answer is a resounding yes! In fact, I’ve been driving here for over 30 years. The first time I drove I got off to a bad start as I was simply not mentally prepared to drive on the left side of the road. My short trip from the airport to the house left me tensed, shaken and with an awful headache! I swore that I was going to return the car back to the rental company the next day! I ended up keeping the car and the experience got better throughout those 2 weeks.

There are two very basic things to remember when driving the first time in Barbados . First, you must remember to drive on the LEFT side of the road. The second is when turning onto a road you must look right, left, then right again. The same is true when crossing a street right, left right. It’s the exact opposite in the states we look left, right left. Go ahead think about it, you’ll understand what I mean.

The hardest thing to learn are the rotaries which are called roundabouts, especially the ones on the highway. First of all, the rotation is counter clock wise, in the US it’s clockwise. Next you have to determine which of the 3 entrance lanes you want to queue in depending on your direction. If you are  getting off the highway or turning left, you queue in the left-most lane. If you are going straight you queue for the middle lane and get off the second exit. If you are turning to the right you queue in the right-most inner lane exiting at the third exit. If you have no clue of what to do or where you are going, get in that same right lane and you can drive in circles on the roundabout until you get dizzy or decide to get off!

A simple thing I have a problem with is that the light switch and turn indicator which are on the right side of the steering wheel and wipers lever is on the left side. Several times I have attempted to flicker my lights to either say go ahead or thank you to a fellow driver and made the mistake of sending the wipers across. Hopefully the other person knew that my wipers meant thank you.

You can generally tell the tourist by the license plate as all hired (rented) cars start with an “H.” Or you can tell them by the way they constantly tap on their brakes trying to navigate potholes and the narrow windy roads of Barbados. The only thing worse than a tourist driver on our roads are vehicles with a big red letter L. The letter L means the driver is Learning to drive.  Sandra says, “The L is for Licking down!”

For the most part I think drivers are courteous. When you need to turn off or on a main road, you will  find that people will flicker their lights to allow you to proceed. The other driver will either give a hand wave, a double toot of the horn or flicker their lights as a thank you.

Yesterday I rode my motorcycle for the first time. It was great fun as I rode to the licensing bureau to pay the road tax and to get my license plates. I saw many smiles, waves, nods and open mouth stares, and a few kids jumping up and down pointing as  I passed by with my music blasting “Something Happening” by Red Plastic Bag and “A Long Walk” by Jill Scott! I got more compliments in one day than I would get in an entire season in Boston!

I’ve been vacationing in Barbados for 30+ years and whenever I hear a motorcycle I turn and look. My bike is unique, I have never seen anything like it on this island! By the way, I had to pay extra to get yellow plates with black lettering so now my bike is in the national colors blue, yellow and black with a broken trident on the front and back fenders!

My final advice on driving in Barbados is be adventurous but have an idea where you are going. Remember your GPS won’t work here but I heard the WAZE (app) will get you in the general area you desire. Although Bajans are approachable and very helpful, you don’t want to ask them for directions! You’ll see what I mean next week with “Bajans giving directions.”