Rules for Crossing the Street

In the countries we have been visiting, the vehicle and pedestrian traffic is very heavy, and crossing the street safely is a serious challenge.

Here are the rules we were told to follow:

• Whenever possible, wait until a local person looks as though s/he wants to cross the street in the same direction. Squeeze in behind that person as though s/he were a best friend.

• Realize that vehicle drivers view traffic lights as ‘indications’ not ‘requirements.’

• Step off the curb as though you know what you are doing.

• DO NOT close your eyes – keep them open so as to know when someone is bearing down on you on their scooter, and hope that they realize you are firm in your decision to cross here.

• DO NOT stop – you might hesitate a bit if the driver seems intent on ignoring you, but always keep moving slowly.

• DO NOT run, and DO NOT turn around and reverse direction.

• And above all, PRAY that following all of these rules will see you safely across the street.

The picture below displays what you see from street level. Yes, people are traveling in diverse directions, criss crossing each other’s paths, and yes, there are cross walks, but they more honored in the breach than in the observance….

The following pictures show you what the street looks like from above (we had repaired to a third floor beer garden to fortify our nerves after crossing the intersection you see)

Pictures taken in Hanoi, Vietnam, but the same scenes are repeated everywhere. Happily, traffic in Luang Prabang, which we are currently visiting, is not so heavy, there are fewer cars, more bicycles, and bigger gaps between vehicles. This makes for much fewer frayed nerves….

Published from Luang Prabang, Laos 1/31/18, during an afternoon off.