The Laws of Traffic
To the uninitiated, Cambodian traffic may seem to be governed by a lawless chaos continually poised on the verge of disaster. While it may be true that disaster is but a hair’s breath away, it is not true that there are no laws. There are in fact 10 laws, and while unspoken, they are as unshakeable as a Cambodian mosquitoes on a hot night.
- If I’m bigger than you, get outta my way: This law potentially sums up basic human nature, and is fitting as a traffic law.
- If you hit me and I’m smaller than you, be prepared to anti up: Ironically, another sentiment that also pervades human nature and is essential in creating a balance against law #1.
- You are only responsible for what you can see: Essentially, whatever is in within a driver’s peripheral vision is their responsibility to avoid. Again, this is law has lineage that draws a straight line back to human nature – “hey man, I didn’t see you” – which is the reason why Cambodians never check their lanes or look left or right when whizzing out into traffic, or stopping suddenly in the middle of the road. As the person behind them, you are responsible for avoiding collision, even if they suddenly whip out in front of you at a T-section without stopping.
- No 90 degree turns: As the 2nd law is a check and balance for the 1st law, this law is a check and balance for the previous. All turns in Cambodia are made at acute angles, slowly merging into on-coming traffic until it diverts around you, giving those behind you sufficient warning that you are turning and allowing oncoming traffic the ability to flow around you without the inconvenience of having to stop as you broad-side their lane.
- Left-hand turns should never cross traffic: It is considered rude and inefficient to cross in front of traffic. The polite and expedient way to make a left hand turn is anticipate a break in traffic prior to your left-hand turn and then cross over onto the the shoulder of the left lane allowing oncoming traffic to flow around you. Make the left hand turn, maintaining your position on the left should, making sure to not make eye contact with any oncoming traffic and when there is a break sufficiently large enough, swing across to the right side of the road.
- Always look right: This law may seem contradictory to law number 3, however it is necessitated by the existence of the previous law. Since vehicles often drive on the wrong side of the road it is essential, as a drive, to check your right lane before you make your turn in order to avoid pulling out and finding someone occupying the bit of space you assumed would be empty (aka, your lane). In the event of a collision, law 3 must defer to law 2, since both parties should have had the other in their visual (the fact that party 2 was on the wrong side of the road is irrelevant: see law 7).
- There is no wrong side of the road: Traffic lanes are merely a point of reference for where the road is going, rather than a standard to govern where the driver should be going. This explains why most traffic in Phnom Penh moves slower than most school zones in the United States and why my 2.5 mile commute to work takes 20 minutes.
- Traffic lights are optional (and not always operable): Traffic lights are a guideline for determining whether or not you should zip through the intersection at high speed or proceed slowly and cautiously. A red light indicates that traffic should zip through sporadically at high speed. The logic being that the less time spent in the intersection the less chance there is of being hit by crossing traffic. Conversely, if the traffic light is green, proceeding with caution is important in order to avoid being hit by anyone who might be zipping through.
- If it’s convenient for you, park there: If the law of the prophets could be summed up in two laws, this would be the second “love your neighbor” law. Sidewalks, doorways, the middle of the road, entry ways, double and triple parking are all viable spots to deposit your personal mode of transportation (but, Cambodian’s are always polite; as a courtesy, vehicles are usually left in neutral so they can be pushed out of the way to provide double or triple parked vehicles an exit).
- Just Keep Driving: This is the “love the Lord your God” law of traffic. If you hit another vehicle – just keep driving. If the light turns red – just keep driving. If the police man on the sidewalk flags you down – just keep driving (pleas can be made to law number 3 if you are apprehended). If you turn down a one-way street going the wrong way – just keep driving. If you there is a road blockade and you can get around it -just keep driving. If your vehicle is smoking like Mount St. Helens and drivers behind you are passing out – just keep driving. If you’re moto is loaded up with 200 chickens and one falls off - just keep driving. If your passenger wants to go one way and you want to go another – just keep driving. The only possible exception to this rule is if you run out of gas, lose a wheel or it’s lunch time; at which point law number 9 goes into effect.
Together, these laws allow Cambodian traffic to function in a manner of more or less organized chaos; thus avoiding the extremes of completely unregulated chaos or the restricting intricacies of conventional western traffic law. It is suggested that all foreigners new to Cambodia should take valium and only observe traffic as passengers before attempting to drive; at which point stronger medication may be required.
