Honestly, I hate going out in Penang. Driving in this idyllic island can be a living nightmare. I seldom go out unless friends/relatives are in town. If and when I do go out, it is to the nearby shops to buy food or to TESCO to get my groceries or to take my son to school/tuition etc. I am not a shopper and hate to cruise along any road in Penang unless it is absolutely necessary. Let me give you a few reasons why this is so.
1. Rude and cantankerous drivers
The worst nightmare is driving along Jalan Masjid Negeri (near to Convent Green Lane and Penang Free School) and the stretch near to Union High School. I have encountered my share of drivers who:
- honk for no reason
- switch lanes from the left lane to the centre lane to the right lane in a few seconds like a Houdini act
- show their middle finger
- flash their headlights in frustration when they cannot cut lane
- overtake without giving signals
- drive in the wrong lane i.e. they are in the left lane (for turning left) and then go straight
- slow drivers who remain in the right lane and hold up the traffic flow
- do not stop at junctions
I have encountered quite a number of road rage drivers who honk at me, overtake my car and then brake in front of my car (not just once but a few times) with the hope that I will crash into them.
Then there are impatient drivers (male/female/old/young) who honk at everyone just because the line is not moving. The worst case scenario I have experienced was at Gurney Plaza after a trip to the book shops there. You would not believe it but I got down from the car and walked to the driver who was honking meaninglessly. I asked him if he had a solution to the bottleneck. He kept quiet and I walked back to my car.
2. Inconsiderate drivers
These inconsiderate drivers love to:
- double park
- park at junctions
- park at places which clearly state no parking/waiting
- block the entrances of households/exits
- beat the traffic lights
- expect law abiding citizens to beat the light like they do and when these drivers stop when the light turns red, these drivers honk at them endlessly
- tail-gating ambulances/VIP cars selfishly
- do not give way
- try to squeeze others off the road/lane
- make U-turns when they are NOT supposed to do that - I witnessed one driver today doing that at Jalan Masjid Negeri just in front of the Shell Patrol Station near to TESCO.
3. Drivers who drive in the WRONG direction
This evening, while cruising along Aboo Sittee Lane, I nearly had a heart attack when a Kellisa headed in the wrong direction along that one way street at full speed. I honked and honked and the guy braked. Then I pointed at him and signalled to let him know it was a one way street. Fortunately, he reversed and then moved in the right direction.
4. Pedestrians who jay walk and expect drivers to stop for them.
Yesterday evening, we were driving home after an evening hike. Two guys wanted to cross the road and did not bother about the traffic. Other cars did not stop for them and swerved to avoid these two guys.Most reluctantly, my husband stopped for them for if not, he would run into them. And you would NEVER believe what one of the guys did - he KICKED MY front bumper!!!
Believe me - it is such a challenge to keep sane and patient when driving in Penang. I just wish drivers would make a conscious effort to be courteous, considerate and kind!
Is that too much to ask?
