Driving in Developing Countries and Remote Areas
Statistical reality
Vehicular deaths may be ten times greater than in developed countries.
Safety belts
Drivers, vehicles, and roads are often or usually unsafe. Don't hire a car without safety belts. Dig them out if you have to.
Tires
Bad tread is bad trouble. Ask any old taxi driver.
Since flats are relatively common in developing countries and remote areas, two spare tires are much preferred. When you have only one spare and lose a tire you're suddenly in a precarious situation. (I had the five gallons, though, below.) Car Hire Europe Car Hire Geneva Car Hire Cyprus
Shock absorbers/struts
The primary purpose of shock absorbers and struts is not to smooth the ride, but to press down on the axle to keep the tire in good contact with the road. Many or most vehicles in developing countries have poor or nonfunctioning shocks, which means they are riding on springs only, which is as unsafe as it sounds.
To test place all your weight on the bumper nearest each tire and jump off. A good shock will almost immediately settle the car after two up and down movements. (Depending on the weight and construction of the car, this is not necessarily a good test.) If you hire a car with bad shocks anyway, don't drive it fast, and don't let anyone else drive it fast. The physics become more and more not in your favor the faster you go. Car Hire Malaga Airport Car Hire Menorca Car Hire Mallorca Airport Car Hire Tenerife
Water
If you don't have at least four or five gallons (fifteen or twenty liters) of water in the back, you don't have enough water. A radiator requires one to three gallons, you require a gallon or more per day.
Illustration: These five gallon water carriers are perfect for car travel.
Brakes
A brake pedal that goes all the way to the floor with continuous pressure indicates a leak or air in the brake lines, a condition that will only get worse, and time to abandon vehicle.
Night driving
is risky. Roads can be narrow and in terrible repair with no warning signs, the unforeseen can suddenly pop in front of you, and drinkers have had all day to get loaded.
Danger
Large rocks in the road sometimes indicate for something ahead. Mostly, of course, there is no warning.
International Driving Permit
The International Driving Permit began with the United Nations Convention of International Road Traffic of 1949. It is now valid in 160 countries, for one year. This permit is available from American Automobile Association and other automobile club offices. You show up at their office with $10, a valid drivers' license, and a passport-sized photo of yourself. The permit is written in nine languages so whoever who pulls you over can read it. Car Hire Ibiza Airport Car Hire Lanzarote Car Hire Malaga
An IDP is not necessary to drive in many developed countries as long as you have a valid license from your home country. This is true even though a German license represents that the driver has spent thousands of Deutschemarks on up to a year of serious training in the arts and skills of managing an automobile, while a Texas license proves you've turned sixteen.
In Japan and many developing countries an International Driving Permit is required if you plan to get behind the wheel. I got an IDP for my first backpacking tour, but haven't bothered since.
Carnet de Passage
The carnet de passage is more than a passport for your car. Because many countries charge high taxes on imported automobiles, it would be possible for backpackers to drive a car into a high-import-tax country and sell it for great profit. Since governments don't want you doing this, they often require a carnet de passage, along with a whole list of stamps, visas, and documents to insure the car comes back out with you.
The carnet de passage costs about $400 and requires a secured line of credit with a bank equal to the value of the vehicle plus whatever the normal import duties for it would be. This ranges up to 300% of the car's market value in some African and Latin American countries. This insures the government gets its money if you sell or abandon the car within its borders. Check with your local automobile association for more information.
While independently cruising down Africa or South America is a great dream for many, the significant pre-planning, bureaucratic hassles, and financial hardships rule it out for most. Besides, local transport--from horse-drawn wagons in rural Poland to pick-up truck beds in Latin America--is easier, cheaper, and more interesting.
In France, however, I caught a ride in a VW van piloted by an Australian couple. When they said they had driven across Asia from Australia, that they had been traveling for a year and a half, and that several months of that time had been spent waiting for documents to be approved for the van, I thought they were pulling my leg in typical Aussie fashion. When they let me out the story became more believable as I watched those Australian plates pulling away. Car Hire Germany Car Hire Spain Car Hire Alicante
A Dane drove across the Sahara and into Central Africa with his father. He said that if anyone was thinking about taking an old jalopy across the Sahara into Africa, they should think again. Officials now will not let you make the trip unless you and your jalopy look capable of making it, and back. He said the route was littered with hulks of Volkswagens, Fiats, Peugeots, etc. that probably never had a chance. Over several evenings of several beers I agreed to put the following tip in this book. Car Hire Paris Charles De Gaulle Car Hire Corfu
When making a big trip across a desert, such as the Sahara, sheep bladders are the best and usual way to store the many gallons of water you will need. The water stays unbelievably cool and fresh when hung outside the vehicle. Martin, Denmark
Buying a Car
Many backpackers buy cars in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States since cars and gas are relatively cheap, and distances long. Australia and New Zealand have companies which specialize in selling cars to backpackers, and offer a guaranteed "buyback" price. This is of course lower than what was paid, but is a reasonable value. Car Hire France Car Hire France Car Hire Nice
I attended several auto auctions in New Zealand intending to buy a fine-old English motorcar and drive it for a few months while fixing it up, then sell for a profit. I still believe this would have been possible, but the right Morris Minor or Austin Mini never presented itself. It was no great loss, though, as the hitchhiking was great--I even got a lift from a former prime minister!
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