Jonathan Finch
Here’s my list. It doesn’t include those well-proven ways of increasing safety and diminishing danger – like driving slowly, using a crash-helmet, avoiding alcohol and ganja.
<a href="https://www.motoin.de/Winter/Helmets/Dainese-Flex-Vizor-S16-ski-helmet::44431.html?language=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>
- Check your hired motorbike for problems like faulty brakes or excessive petrol-consumption.
- Don’t be annoyed that Khmers require your passport if you hire a bike. Check into your hotel before you hire.
- Be aware that road surfaces change and some are unsafe.
- Recognise danger from afar by assessing on-coming traffic that wants to overtake. Slow down immediately. Be able to slow down immediately.
- Hooting is widespread and should be accepted.
- Ask for a visor with your crash-helmet.
- Cars and lorries will come into your lane when they are overtaking; they expect you to use the little path to your right. Be immediately aware that speeding on to it will lessen your control.
- Lanes and little paths by the sides of roads are uneven and treacherous.
- You are driving on the right and if this is not your habit, be additionally careful.
- Rain, insects and the sun can hurt you.
- Any uncovered part of your body will suffer especially your hands and nose. If you are wearing shorts and no socks, your legs and feet will also be exposed.
- Dawn and dusk sunlight is blinding.
- Thunderstorms should be avoided.
- Marketplaces are chaotic and spill out on to roads.
- Getting your bike stolen is also an “accident”, so lock and padlock your bike because there are cities (like Sihanoukville) where stealing bikes and making foreigners pay is business.
- Finally, when in Cambodia don’t do as the Cambodians do. Don’t drive as the Cambodians drive. That’s all I can think of for now. Feedback welcome.
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