In some countries, you need to fear not only the car but also the local drivers
If you plan to visit the famous health resorts of Western Ukraine, sanatoriums of Kislovodsk, or treat your joints with Baltic muds on your own car, there is no point in frantically flipping through traffic rules, as they differ little across the territory of the former Soviet republics. But if your plans include flying abroad and renting a car there, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the features of national driving.
Let's consider the most popular vacation destinations among our compatriots: Egypt, Spain, Brazil, India.
When planning to travel independently by car in Egypt, buy earplugs and a horn that roars no worse than a departing boat in advance. Also stock up on headache pills for the entire duration of your stay, as local drivers never stop honking. The universal honking carries no semantic load – the driver simply announces his presence. Be careful when driving at night, as it is not customary to use additional lighting and high beams. Moreover, at night there are many snakes and animals from local farms on the road, which are hard to spot in the black southern darkness.
In Spain, you may wait a long time for your turn to merge onto a highway – yielding is not customary here, so merge into the flow at your own risk. Note that using GPS navigation systems is prohibited in Spain, so do not take a new transmitter with you on the trip.
Most roads in Brazil have one-way traffic, albeit the usual right-hand driving. Finding a parking spot for Brazilians is a daily national "entertainment", just like standing in traffic jams for hours or racing in the general flow. In slow traffic, thieves are active, snatching anything that is "poorly secured" from open car windows as they run. So do not give in to the temptation to feel the breeze; instead, lock windows and doors and turn on the air conditioning. When leaving your car in a parking lot, be sure to leave a couple of dollars for the attendant – then in the morning you will find your car intact.
What traffic rules are in force in India – even seasoned travelers who have traveled half the globe and visited sanatoriums of Yessentuki, fished on Easter Island, and vacationed in chalets in Switzerland find it hard to answer. If you are tired of crawling in the right lane, feel free to switch to the left lane.
Remember: the larger your vehicle, the more important you are and the better you are let through. Rent a jeep – then you can get through anywhere. But fear truck drivers and long-haul vehicles, as they are the true kings of the road and may not be aware of traffic rules. It is advisable to slow down if an object flashing and shimmering is moving towards you – it is pilgrims traveling, and the drivers of such buses are unpredictable people.