Hi,
I've only been in Cambodia a few weeks and I've noticed a peculiar motorbike driving technique.
I was hoping a few knowledgeable souls on this forum can shed some light on the matter.
Motorbike drivers grasping the right hand of the handlebars palm down
while the left hand grasps the handlebar from the bottom with the palm facing up.
It seems to be females in particular but I have notices males doing it too.
I think this might be a special Asian technique to drive a little safer so I tried it myself and actually crashed my bike. Obviously I'm not accustomed to this approach. Do you think I should keep it up until I master the technique?
BBL
I haven't seen this but I have seen 9 accidents so far, most caused by stupidity. I doubt any technique will make them drive any safer nor should anyone imitate what locals do. They don't even know how to perform first aid (people run to the scene only to watch) and they believe only the driver needs a helmet.
Think, humans, think! They can't be bothered to look at traffic rules but they do know every cheesy love song at the karaoke bar. Doesn't know the streets but somehow knows how to navigate through their smartphones. It'll take decades for safety to improve.
The girls do not want to expose their skin to sun as they may become a little browner and not conform to the ideal of looking kinda Korean. Hence driving along in a wobbly fashion with their hands upside down on the bars.
I like to swerve close to them and frighten such people, in the hope it may:
A: Make them change their dangerous ways.
or
B: Crash and die, making the roads safer for the rest of us.
Similar techniques should also be applied to those using mobile telephones when driving any motorised vehicle.
@Zabooka okay. This is odd behavior as one of their arms would be tanned on the underside and the other not. It makes no sense, why would you drive dangerously rather then wear something to cover yourself up?
Also I've noticed a lot of Lexus drivers, they *all* seem to be on their phones. I'm sorry to upset anybody (locals) on this forum but these people just drive out of intersections and t-junctions while on their phone and never look left or right. It happens everyday many times to me since I've been here. These drivers are really rude and ignorant.
It makes me think that Cambodians are not so friendly. They try to kill each other on the road. Only the other night I witnessed a Lexus 'T-bone' a lady on her bike. Then the driver of the Lexus (who was totally at fault) jumped out yelling and waving a hand gun. It really made me scared.
What is this all about? Does this happen a lot here. This is not the 'kingdom of wonder' I had heard about.
^
I actually see (mainly) girls with both hands upside down on the bars rather than just one. Of course it would be more sensible to cover up.
Then again this really is the kingdom of wonder as it really can make one wonder at times!
Don't let the bad stuff get to you too much and you'll begin to see the good more and more.
Not sure about what it indicates, but I can tell you they are the rudest, most ignorant, dangerous drivers I have ever seen.
The good thing about Cambodia is that most of them drive relatively slow. Where I lived in China, I saw terrible accidents every day and always from people doing incredibly stupid things at high speeds. Trust me, the there are places in China (and Afghanistan) that make driving in Cambodia look civilized and orderly. Sure, I sometimes get very angry at the stupidity I experience while driving here (and I've been the victim of 2 hit and runs) but it's all part of the Cambodian experience.
Yes, but at least they smile when they drive at you the wrong way and nearly cause you to crash.
The underarm handlebar grip is very common. Brake suddenly and they'll face plant. One clown I saw recently was holding onto his mirror stem with his left hand rather than the handlebar.
Question - why do many Cambodians like to sit on the back of their bicycles, on the metal section above their rear mudguard, rather than on the saddle?
There is no explaining why they do what they do. I chalk it up to ignorance. Scroll through here and every week you see someone splattered on the street from driving like an ass with no helmet. And the Police to not give a rats. https://www.facebook.com/pages/HEALTH-Magazine-Cambodia/120701151280553
I dont take it. They drive crazy and hit me I take measures that makes it clear I did not like the way they endangered my life.
they do everything on a moto.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=233631656741772&set=a.2154920018...
Alaskan,
The chances are that if someone hits an international it will end up being the internationals fault anyway if their is police involvement, be careful what you wish for thats what I say.