Tobago Today ... drive safely!!!

Street signs in Tobago greet travellers with "Welcome to .... village. Please drive With Care"
.... on roads which follow the British driving system i.e. drive on the Left side of the road ... and cars have steering mechanisms on the right side .... In general roads are well surfaced, and wide enough for two cars. You will usually find street signs .... but they do fall off. And you may notice markers ( low white concrete posts ) on the side of the main roads showing your distance from Scarborough in Kilometres.

Petrol (called GAS) stations are not plentiful - they carry the NP sign (National Petroleum) and provide Unleaded gas in 2 grades - super and premium. There are no 24 hour service stations (yet) - with one station in Bon Accord near the Airport; one each in Carnbee, Plymouth, Roxborough and Charlotteville villages. And three in Scarborough. Rental vehicles usually require that you return them with a full tank (as you received them) or you may supply the agency with the $$ to re-fill the tank for you. Sundays and Public holidays can be tricky with stations closed or having very long queues of cars.

For the visitor it's especially important to remember - Keep on the LEFT side of the road, especially when driving on hillsides in the country and along winding roads. And it is the law that the driver and front seat passengers MUST keep their seat belts fastened.

It helps that the speed limit is 50 KM PH (which is a mere 30 Miles per hour) everywhere - including the Claude Noel Highway. The slow pace is well liked by visitors who want to see the sights...but local drivers probably won't obey the speed limit. Don't be the one to get caught in the speed trap!

Exercise CAUTION ...

Keep your eyes peeled for local hazards ... chickens, sheep and goats, cows, school children at play ... adults crossing the roads.... politely tap your car horn if you suspect danger - it's better to be safe than sorry.

What was that!??? Cars inevitably drive with their windows rolled down ... and as expressive people while talking we gesticulate constantly, hands outside the drivers car window are not uncommon. Be aware - that hand may (or may not) have been making a signal. Slow down and see what happens next.

AND What was that ??!! Drivers inevitably swerve to avoid bumps, holes, miscellaneous things in the road ... rather than drive their cars into them. Driving at moderate speed limit (30 mph) and driving with caution are normally sufficient to keep you in good stead.

Night Driving has its own dangers -street lighting is patchy in populated areas and may be entirely absent on country roads. There are a few inconsiderate drivers using their high beam on our narrow roads, there are also "one eyed" cars whose drivers may not even be aware that one headlight is not functioning! and there are trucks/cars with no working brake or tail light.
Slow down and take it easy - you don't have far to go.

On wet roads and rainy nights - there may be rather large pools of water on the road surface, sometimes with a pothole lurking beneath it.
Indicator lights - are usually a sign of what the driver ahead intends but sometimes the light remains blinking after the turn is made (trucks and older cars especially) and this could be dangerous to other road users. Once again, drive with moderate speed and keep aware of what is actually happening, you will avoid most hazards.

Drinking and driving - the breathalyser is not yet in use on the isalnd - but it is coming. In the meanwhile many motorists do unfortunately drink (too much) and drive. Be particularly careful at all the festive days and at weekends and month-ends - when you will encounter reckless driving. The danger increases after dark - with tired eyes and muddled thinking.
Stay awake and stay sober.

In case you have an ACCIDENT .... in the unfortunate and remote possibility .... you MUST report it to the area's police station within a day. Failure to report is a traffic offence. If you have a camera take a photograph before moving your vehicle out of the way of other traffic. Alternatively, get a stone and scratch the position of your car tyres on the road. You need the license number and description of the other car, the name of the driver (ask to see their driver's permit) and he/she must show you their car insurance details. You will give them the same information. Report the accident also to your rental car company.