Haitian Traffic Rules

On our first drive through Port-au-Prince, we were so busy taking in our surroundings that some aspects of the driving experience were lost on us. The drive back to the airport yesterday was a different story - our focus was completely on the road. And what a ride!

Here are a few unwritten driving rules we discovered in those few hours.

1. He who has the largest vehicle has the right of way.
2. The exception to rule #1 is: He who is least worried about the condition of his vehicle has the right of way.
3. Two short blasts on the horn means “Hello” or “Bonjou.”
4. Several short blasts on the horn means “Small vehicle coming through.”
5. One long horn blast means “Large vehicle coming through – get out of the way!”
6. It is perfectly acceptable to drive into oncoming traffic, on the wrong side of a divided road, as long as the correct lanes are congested and you turn on your hazard lights.
7. Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. Nor do livestock animals, children, or motorcycles.
8. The middle finger is not used for traffic violations; however, stare downs and the occasional shouted exchange are acceptable.
9. The taxi (also known as a small pickup truck with a colorfully painted canopy and ‘benches’ in the box) will continue to accept passengers to the point the front tires lifting off the ground in transit.
10. Should a taxi be unavailable, other vehicles will gladly accept passengers in the truck box, on top of cargo loads, or riding on bumpers.

Pretty much everyone is home now. Or at least on home soil. So now we ask for your prayers as we emotionally process returning to North American culture. We also ask you to lift up Jim & Dolores these next couple of weeks - Jim has stayed on at Haiti Arise to complete some welding projects and will return home on Feb. 23.