It might be nothing new for most of you but I want to stress again that the traffic in Peru is chaotic (like in many other countries) but in a dangerous way. They are more aggressive, less caring for anyone or anything. In the corners, many (especially bus drivers!!) seem to think they own the whole road. In general they like to use both lanes. I have the feeling that they pull to the left when they notice that you want to pass.
I have never used the horn that often, especially on narrow dirt roads! Could safe lifes!
Safe rides everyone!

A Peruvian friend described his countrymen as "P!ss poor driving w@nkers".

I thought they were no worse than, for example, New Yorkers, all Africans ("Life is cheap"), all Indians ("There's only 1 road rule: Might is right") or the locals of Manningham, (in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England... many of whom wear burkhas..., where I have the misfortune of driving through every day Monday to Friday).

IMHO, lots of places in world have sh!te driving, not just Peru.

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Sure, there are bad drivers everywhere! But there is a difference between forgetting the turning signal or to check if the road is clear and to not knowing that this would be an option, too.
Then, they do not even care if you meet them on the opposite lane, even though they see you coming, they START to pass a long truck or whatever, even though they are in a slow and long vehicle themselves! Worst of all, a semi-truck starting to pass another in front of a 90 degree bend without the slightest clue if it is clear or not! In these moments I want a big gun...
Then there are trucks passing trucks who are passing a truck, nice!
I do not want to compare with others or put Peruvians in a bad light, I just want to make people more aware and maybe help to get through without damage to life and material.

Thanks for the heads up.

I thought Peruvian drivers noticeably worse than in neighboring countries. On the other hand, I didn't ride any differently, and I don't think I was actually in more danger. Like lots of places, trucks and buses claim their right to whatever bit of roadway they please, and smaller vehicles must make way or suffer the consequences.

This is taken for granted--hence the buses which pull out to pass knowing full well that you're already occupying the space they're moving into, and the trucks which pass on blind corners. They know you'll do whatever it takes to get out of their way, and you'd better know it too if you plan to return home in one piece. Watch the local drivers of small cars and little wee motorbikes: they don't get offended, they just pay attention and get out of the way of anything bigger. If possessed of some sort of odd belief about a different set of rules, best stay clear. But anyone who's made it as far as Peru shouldn't have to make much of an adjustment.

Like others here, I tend to get assertive about claiming my own space--it's useful to let the other drivers know that you're not behaving in the manner they're used to. Even those oncoming trucks and buses don't actually WANT to hurt you, despite any observable evidence to the contrary. If they see you weaving back and forth down the center line toward them with your headlight blazing, they'll give you more room and respect than they would if you cower timidly along the highway verge with the other two wheeled traffic. Just be prepared to take evasive action when you meet the ones who really ARE trying to kill you.

Mark

Peru is no worse than many others, each country has its "dance" and you are just part of it. The fact you can become a curiosity only adds their distractions.

The horn is over rated, having ridden from New Orleans without one I was well versed in sounding my position when needed (I can be loud), or my wife would "honk" from behind on my behalf.

Peru was just good practice for Bolivia, where a horn is used to signify right of way at junctions (he who beeps 1st , a bit like a USA 4 way stop but with sound). My verbal shouts of BEEEEEPPPPP caused much amusement.

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Good to know the 'honk' is needed and useful in South America, as I feel I mastered the art of honking while overlanding in India ... Perhaps the best thing about learning to ride in India was that everywhere else seems like Switzerland by comparison.

Weaving between those TATA trucks and having them hurtling towards you at 80mph like Elephants fired out of a giant canon directly in your lane while they overtake a chain of slow moving army trucks really is a unique feeling.


Good advice, 1+

all good but it does not help to be assertive if you come around a corner and a bus is stearing right towards you. You have less than a second to chose between a frontal crash and the ditch. What if there is no ditch but a free fall of maybe hundreds of meters!
My lesson is: NO music while riding in these conditions, stay on the right side before corners, be even more alert and use the horn if you cannot see.
Other than that it makes perfect sense to show them that you are there and tend to use your lane yourself.

As the driver of a BigRig, one dangerous mistake from some bikers is thinking they can round a corner with their wheels on their side of the centre line and their head two feet on my side of the line.

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Tony
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Sure! But this another thing that I am not talking about.

That is normal in Colombia, on *every* bend. But whenever the truck had the name "Dodge" emblazoned across the grill I always giggled :-)

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Please recap what you are talking about and write a draft of a reply that you would like to receive. That way I can copy and paste it into my reply and this will hopefully satisfy you.

Much of the world drives like tossers. If you don't like it, don't ride/drive there (probably something else you're not talking about...)

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That is a bit harsh Chris.

It is not that he does not like it here he just not like being left with a big repair bill from a "professional driver", I would feel the same.

Tobius put a polite thread after suffering reasonably sever damage to his bike bike and almost person from an arsehole driver who then denied EVERYTHING.

I have seen the damage personally and tried to help get it sorted.

Personally I would not have sugar coated it and called the bus driver what he really deserved and given the chance a right hand kiwi cuddle.

Suggest YOU reword YOUR post NOT knowing the entire background to a friendly warning for other riders post.

Tobius, post up the bus company etc and let the news out, no sugar coatings.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

A youtube vid of a guy who should NOT be driving, see the space on the left hand side, you can fit a car through there no worries, this guy should be shot!!

http://youtu.be/1Y4Eh6Xj-lw

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere