Rules of the Road

 I recently read an article, well I read the majority of an article, online that is claiming that my generation is no longer as excited about driving as our parent's generation. Still driving is a luxury most Americans take for granted. We expect to walk out, get into our car, drive out on maintained roads and that other's are obeying the rules set down by the government. 

Driving in Benin could not be more different! As I mentioned in an earlier post, driving can cause your life to flash before your eyes. The majority of motor transportation is done on motor bikes, large vans, and large trucks. Our trusty steed was the white van pictured below. We nicknamed it the the YoVan because of the color and the common greeting we received was Yovo, Yovo Bonsoir which translates to white person good day. 

The YoVan - fully equipped with no seat belts!

 The most common road side stand throughout the country is pictured below. Those glass containers contain fuel for the many motorbikes and cars. Everything, and I mean everything, is reused in Benin including the alcohol bottles storing the fuel.  There are what we would consider traditional gas stations, however many people opt to use the roadside stands.

Roadside gas stations

 So here is a photo of a van the same size as ours. It should seat 11 given the number of 'actual' seats. However, this van is packed to capacity. We estimated there were close to 20 people packed in there. There was even one van we passed where one of the passengers was attempting to hold the door closed.

Public Transportation?

The Rules for Driving in Benin:

1. There are no rules!

2. Seriously, the main objectives are to not hit anyone and don't get hit

3. Use turn signal and honk to make a move

At times there are up to five people riding on a motorbike and  passing dangerously between  vehicles.

We arrived at the end of the rainy season, but there was still enough rain to flood this portion of the road.

So many people!

What a cutie, strapped to mom's back on a motorbike and sleeping through the whole thing.

Maneuvering one of the many roundabouts.

One final note about driving - we Americans have absolutely no right to complain about pot holes and road construction.  Many of the pot holes were three to four feet across and at times nearly eight inches deep. It is a major problem when considering further development in Benin. Without good roads to transport the various agricultural goods from the country sides to the populated cities many of the goods are more expensive in the cities and at times rot. 

Au revoir,

Liz