Red Yellow Green - Huh?
Mar 6th, 2007 by Don Ray
About two months ago I wrote in a post, that David was going to get traffic lights. La Prensa had said it would begin at the end of January. I guess that January was a longer month this year because the first light was being put up today at the corner of University del Istma (UDI).
I had understood that there were supposed to be 25 lights to be installed in David, but the policeman, that I talked to today, said that this was the only one in David. He said another one was going to be put up in the Frontera. Time will tell.
Now a word of caution. Only some Gringos and some Panamanians currently observe stop signs in Panama. Taxi drivers take their foot off the accelerator for a brief moment and may or may not stop. If you are stopped at a four-way intersection and take too long to proceed then some one from behind may go before you.
Add traffic lights into the David driving equation and things may get interesting. I can’t imagine a Panamanian waiting at a red light if there is no one coming on the intersecting street.
I think the lights will be interpreted as follows:
Green – Go Fast.
Yellow – Go Faster to beat the Red.
Red – Pause and resume going fast.
I recommend that everyone make sure that his or her insurance is up to date. The fun is about to begin.
Thanks a million for this information! I think that the most difficult intersection in David is at Panamotor on the Miguel Angel Brenes Street (close to McDonald’s) and not at UDI.
I believe that a plural number of collisions will take place since many drivers in David interpret the lights not for what they lawfully mean and only see if there are cars on the way.
I must make a mental warning to be extra careful when going through this intersection.
Hi Lilia. I agree that it will be wise to be very careful around this intersection. I am even concerned that someone will get run into from behind on the one way street if they stop for a red light.
Pray! Pray that this is the only one.
Hi Dave. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Time will tell. I think they had planned for more.
Why there?? Of all the crazy intersections in David why there?
Well the street is known as “la calle de muertos”.
As crazy as the drivers are in Panama…Costa Rica is 10 times worse! I was amazed at how many drivers even those damned Rojos Diablos actually stopped at lights and signs in Panama city. In CR they would run over their own grandmother and not even blink!
And Mexico is probably worse than that. At least it was the last time I was there.
Hi Don:
I echo with Snake Eyes comments regarding driving habits in Costa Rica. Those guys are really crazy. They are having real bad traffic accidents there. I think the legislative body is flexing the muscle with stiffer fines or there will be no Ticos left to tell the story.
Great post, Don.
Regards,
Omar.-
Thanks for dropping in Omar.
I recently spent 13 days driving from the states. It can be done faster but we did some sight seeing. As far as countries go for driving, Guatamala was by far the worst. Its the only place I and the 18 wheeler in front of me have been passed by 3 cars abreast on a blind mountain curve with oncoming traffic on a 2 lane road. Very interesting. Also, Guatemala has the worst corruption (mordidas). The roads are pretty good though. Mexico is the worst for topes (speed bumps), but mostly decent roads. No trouble with policia or immigracion. Costa Rica has the absolute worst roads. El Salvador was absolutely beautiful with great roads, honest officials but the most animals on the road. Honduras was only place we were harassed, but we had everything they asked for and they ran out of excuses to give us a multa. Nicaragua was the poorest country, and a mix of good roads and bad. Beautiful scenery.
I’m really saddened that David got a stop light. Technology is not the answer to everything.
Lamar
Hi Lamar,
Thanks for leaving a comment. Some well placed lights might help things. The key will be if the lights are enforced. I expect to see a few accidents before this is over.
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