...Driving in Penang (Malaysia)?

Okay okay, now I’ve got the attention of the KL drivers too. Forget about the debate between the drivers from the different states (which ones are more skillful). We’ll leave the bickering for another post. I’ve just decided to post this after the countless of hours spent in my car each week getting to work every morning. Do take note that some of these observations may apply to drivers from other states too.

Firstly, I’ve found driving in Penang to be a rather unpleasant experience in contrast to driving in the United States. In Penang, it always seems like every person on the road is a competitor. Everyone’s vying to get ahead of each other, squeeze into that little gap or make it cross that traffic light before the cars on the other side of the junction start moving.

I have found that even the way the fellow motorist look at you is an issue. The look I get is always an accusing one, as if I’ve done something wrong. And believe me I’ve checked and I was on the left side of the road, as I should be. I just believe that the relationship between motorists should be one of mutual benefits (sharing) and not one competitive in nature.

A pet peeve of mine, driving along the streets of Penang is the motorcyclist. There are tons of them!! I am compelled to liken them to flies, buzzing and zipping around, popping around out of thin air and then disappearing just as mysteriously. You know you cant hit them or you’re in for a lot of trouble, but then sometimes it seems like they’re just begging to be knocked down.

It also totally infuriates me when I’m trying to turn into a junction with heavy oncoming traffic. Then there’s this gap I see coming my way. I know I can make it once that gap approaches the junction, but lo and behold a fly zips along, blocking that gap and totally foils my attempt to turn in. *swat *swat!

The traffic jams in Penang are pretty nasty too. Not as bad as the legendary ones in KL. But still, they don’t make the journey to work any better. I myself, am a little ashamed to admit that I am one of those guys who upon seeing a long queue of cars, decides to ride alongside the line and when the opportunity presents itself, swing into line. Yes, I jump queues. But only when driving, mind you.

When jumping queue like that, one thing that I’ve noticed is that if you want to cut into someone’s line, do it to a person that just committed the crime. Thinking about it in a psychological sense, this person has successfully cut into the line, so when you try to cut in front of him, being in sort of a high from his success, he should allow you in. It has worked out really well for me.

Of course it doesn’t work all the time. There are some really really really kaisu and heartless drivers out there. But this method of cutting in works about eight out of ten times.
It’s really living by the law of the jungle out there. So if the banking on one’s good heart doesn’t work, then there’s the other method; a very risky one. This method involves one question….who loves his/her vehicle more, you or the person you’re trying to cut in to? So just swing your car into a gap, and if that guy loves his car enough not to try and risk hitting you, he’ll yield. Tsk tsk…I’m such a bad influence.

I’m tempted to get back to my thoughts on local motorcyclist, but never mind. I’ll save it for my one to one conversations.