After continuing to observe traffic over the last few weeks, I realized just how much you can learn if you truly apply yourself. Dear readers are not encouraged to implement these actions in your country of origin. However, if you happen to visit the Kingdom, live in the Kingdom or have reflected on any abstract way on the Kingdom, expect to see these moves.
Car blocking: When you need to do a left-hand turn, position
yourself behind a car. They will block for you and than you can quickly
overtake them later. Do not immediately pass the car which is blocking for you as you could get hit.
Front Cutting:
Say there is a traffic light with a significant amount of waiting
traffic. It's considered acceptable to pull into oncoming traffic, drive
on the other side of the double yellow line until you have reached the
front of the line, preferably parked on the zebra crossing. (Recently
cars started pulling this move which creates massive problems.) If
traffic is really bad, than oncoming traffic won't be able to pass.
Traffic reaches a gridlocked standstill where no one can move. This is extremely routine. The notion that collective waiting and taking turns might improve the situation is not there. You may also drive on all available sidewalks, anything getting you any advantage.
Cutting Stations:
Say you want to do a right hand turn at an intersection and there is a petrol station on that corner. You may unquestionably cut through the
gas station. Even if there is a green light, still cut through the
petrol station. Even if there is a ramp especially for right hand turns,
still cut through the petrol station.
Penn Left: If you are at a red stoplight and
wish to turn left. You attentively watch the clock countdown. The moment
it hits green, you zip out as fast as possible before the oncoming
traffic reaches your side, bending sharply to provide room for those
oncoming traffic to continue straight. I've heard this called
"a Pennsylvania Left." [Someone somewhere hates Pennsylvania. I don't
hate Pennsylvania.]
Traffic Packs:
Suppose there is a heck of a lot of oncoming traffic preventing your
crossing. You wait until several other cars and motos want to make the
same move. Typically there is one daredevil moto who will lead the pack,
setting the pace for the rest of the creeping motos. His success is
based entirely on how successfully he taunts oncoming traffic to
stop. Together, slowly, everyone starts moving forward in a pack, a few
inches per second, until all oncoming traffic is forced to stop. This is
how traffic functions in general especially when there aren't lights,
the largest pack forcing their way forwards. When traffic from the other
direction produces a larger pack, than they will force forward. This is
a metaphor for life in Cambodia; stay in the pack, and you are safe and
protected.
Arm Indication: If you're going to
make a significant turn in traffic, it's common that your passenger will
indicator the turn. This requires a full arm extension in the direction
of the turn and a sharp up/down flapping from the wrist. Occasionally, a
solo driver on the moto will make this indication (for left hand turns
only, because the accelerator is controlled by your right hand). The arm
indicator is no guarantee that you will be allowed to be turn, but a
reduction in the probability of being hit.
Intersection Insanity:
Say you're waiting on a red light. You see an opening in traffic.
Hello! Take it, idiot! That red light is for...who knows who that's
for... There is a direct correlation between this move and helmet-free
drivers.
Tenting Anguish: Side note, at bothersome times
over the year, a fun traffic obstacle are the tents on the street for
weddings/funerals/parties with no notice to neighbors whatsoever. You
must smile and then move on. I'm joking... suppress your rage.
Cambodians deal with it in a culturally appropriate manner, they keep quiet, as is expected, rather than loosing face. As a foreigner, you're bound to similar standards, swallow it and move on. No one ever said it made sense.
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