Under the influence of both overt and covert laws, the adopted penal system for violations, the level of incomes in society, and the perception of danger on the road, motorists form a number of habits. Many of them are typical for a certain region, and only a few are universal. Below you will see a list of ten habits that are most common for Belarusian drivers.
Parking the car backwards to the curb
Once a German expert, who often visits Belarus on business, noticed an interesting thing: “And you know that Belarusians often park the car backwards to the curb. It’s so cautious! If you have to leave quickly, then you do not have to waste time on backing. Do you have a permanent danger on the parking lots? In Western Europe everybody park the car forwards and it’s okay. ”
After an unusual remark, we began to pay attention to the manner of the Belarusian parking. Indeed, even in an uncomfortable situation, drivers tend to park backwards to the curb. Perhaps this is due to the fear that when you have to leave the space will be limited.
We believe that some prohibitions do not exist in reality
Many drivers regularly challenge the system. To stop under the prohibitory sign? So I’m just for a minute. To turn around at the traffic lights and stand in front of everyone? Well I’m in a rush, what’s wrong?
Sometimes such violations are associated with unreasonable restrictions, which causes the skepticism among the drivers to other ones, which are really essential .
The key is considered the absence of inevitability of punishment, which can be provided only by automatic means of fixing the violation (and not in 100% of cases). For example, speed cameras on a certain part of the route.
We cross the stop line
It happens everywhere: the drivers are impatient, when these damned lights will go green, and roll over the line indicating the place where vehicles stop. Or for some reason they do not have time to cross the intersection and freeze in the middle of the pedestrian crossing.
The question is, whom it is bothering? Well, for example, pedestrians or drivers turning left.
That is why in Brest decided not to duplicate traffic lights (this is the European experience). At the crossings, there is no stance, and as a compensating measure, small boards at the traffic lights in front of the stop line are installed. After some time, the Road Traffic police analyzed what effect this had caused. It turned out that this measure made it possible to remove such kind of violations as the crossing the road at the red lights and also to reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians.
We rate drivers by their car
Just recently in Belarus the cars have not been available to a wide range of people. For Belarusians, owning a private vehicle is not just a matter of convenience, but the fundamental factor of positioning oneself in society – among neighbors, colleagues, former classmates, etc.
A good eye immediately determines to which price segment the car belongs. Depending on this, drivers adjust their behavior.
If a fresh Range Rover for some reason does not move at the green traffic light signal, it is unlikely that someone will start to honk. But if a shabby “budget” car tries to enter the fast lane, it will be immediately put in its place by horns or blinking headlights.
We change filters / liquids on our own
Despite the fact there are a lot of the car repair centers, Belarusian motorists still prefer to change filters or brake pads on their own. There are cases when even the owners of premium cars are engaged in this. When a person understands and knows what to do – it’s absolutely okay. Some drivers even find a romance in this: to shake the old days, to go into the warm garage, to pick up a wrench…
It’s quite another thing when a motorist who does not understand the rules of repair work just tries to save money. The error can cause the serious breakdown, which require the help of a qualified specialist.
We ask the Road Traffic Police officer to limit himself to a warning
Eight out of ten drivers stopped by the Road Traffic Police officer asked to limit themselves to the warning: “Well, do you think that I am malicious violator? Noooo”. In fact, a warning is not just a moralizing phrase, but a kind of administrative influence that should be recorded in the database of offenses.
Distracted driving
Perhaps, this applies not only to the Belarusians. The same is true for drivers in other countries. How many accidents happen because the driver switched the radio station, or answered a phone call or shook cigarette ash from his trousers …