Have you ever been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic with no end in sight or been down a road so full of potholes that you’ve almost gotten carsick? Throughout the world many countries have less than favorable driving conditions. If you are a tourist you might not know what you are getting into when you decide to rent a car to go sightseeing. Travelers should avoid driving in the following cities unless they are prepared for a frustrating or a sometimes terrifying experience.
Paris, France
Driving in France can be confusing and there’s limited parking spots. This means that there are usually a lot of traffic backups as drivers have no problem blocking the road while they are waiting for a parking spot. The city also uses many roundabouts that don’t have lane markers so drivers have to do their best to try to navigate their way around them.
Beijing, China
This city is full of traffic congestion. In 2010 there was a traffic jam that caused drivers to be stuck in traffic for days. The city is getting a little better with preventing traffic jams now that they have alternating travel days for those that own cars. However, with more than five million registered vehicles there are still a lot of cars on the road at any given time and a traffic flow pattern that is often difficult to decipher.
Seoul, South Korea
Everyone seems to be in a hurry in Seoul when it comes to driving. Many people don’t pay attention to lanes or road laws in general. A lot of motorcyclists and small cars drive on the sidewalks even though it’s illegal. Drivers are very aggressive and won’t think twice about cutting you off to get into a coveted parking spot.
Mumbai, India
Not only do drivers have to deal with other drivers in Mumbai, but they have to deal with animals as well. Since cows are sacred in this country, they get the right of way and you can face some serious penalties if you accidentally run into one. Many of the roadways aren’t paved or have severally deteriorated pavement which makes driving in this country seem more like going four wheeling in an incapable vehicle rather than trying to drive down the road. Drivers love to use their horns so the experience is also rather noisy.
Lagos, Nigeria
You are not likely to find a roadway that is paved well in this country, which makes for a very bumpy ride. As far as traffic lights go, forget about it as they are either nonexistent or hidden by overgrown trees or brush. It’s not uncommon for unsuspecting travelers to accidentally go the wrong way down a road because they didn’t see a “One Way” sign.
If you are traveling to a foreign country, make sure you do your research about the driving conditions there. Fortunately many countries do have excellent public transportation so you won’t have to worry about navigating the roads while trying to avoid a stray cow or a large pothole.
