How to Ride Rough Roads
The roads are different everywhere, so I was not sure what to expect when the Lifehacker contingent from Costa Rica appointed me as the driver of their rental car. Our roads turned out to be dusty and bumpy, but driving on them is not difficult if you are used to such things. (I found that the most stressful moment was parallel parking on a crowded street; they called me the hero who led our Corolla across a small river.) Here’s what you need to know about driving on rough roads.
Talk to the locals
Before you do anything – and ideally before you choose your rental car – find out which roads are there and what you need to prepare. Be sure to clarify the details as well. Our production team in Costa Rica told us that the roads were “pretty flat,” which doesn’t mean paved (sorry Joel), which meant we wouldn’t be driving too many real mountains.
On our first night there, we heard that there was no bridge on our planned route for the next day. Some people said that it would be impossible to go where we want, but the data from Waze suggests that people cross this river normally. To reach a final verdict, we asked the receptionist at our hotel. She knew the exact spot we had in mind and had the latest information: if it were the rainy season, we would have to make a two-hour detour, but the river is dry enough now that even the Corolla can go right. on through.
Don’t forget to read about road signs and recommend safety tips for the area you are traveling to. If you cannot find the information you are looking for with a quick Google search, your car rental company can give you some tips.
Slow down
Unpaved roads can be bumpy, dusty and full of potholes, but all you have to do to cross them is just slow down. Neither your car’s suspension nor your passengers will appreciate it if you try to overcome bumps. Also keep in mind that dust and dirt can be slippery in their own way. For the most part, if you act slowly, you will be fine.
Avoid potholes. If you can roll to punch a hole between the wheels, that’s fine. But remember if it gets in the path of oncoming traffic and if that traffic can see you. You probably won’t be able to avoid every pothole, so aim for smaller ones.
Safe to cross water
Many of the bridges we encountered in Costa Rica were single-lane, which meant that you might have to wait for oncoming traffic before you had to cross to the other side. (If there is a car ahead of you, follow it.) Pay attention to the signs and watch what other cars are doing.
When we got to the crossing, it was clear that cars had recently passed through and there were tire tracks forming a winding path along the edge of the river / puddle. I stopped to look around the scene because I was not sure how deep the water was – it probably wasn’t the Corolla’s footprints.
While I was waiting, a taller car drove past us, right across the river, and the motorcyclist circled it. He stopped to show us the best way and said that we would be fine if we went there. If I just ran into this water without all these clues, I’m not sure I would take the risk. Gather information and remember that this is always better than regret.
Standing water can be especially dangerous because it is often deeper than you think. I would not recommend testing the capabilities of your car, but people who are used to driving on water will know how deep their car can go. Typically, water should remain under the exhaust pipe, or at least push the exhaust out of the engine. If you fail and water gets into the exhaust system, leave the car in place and tow it and pump it out; don’t try to run it.
What to do if animals are on the road
When I rented a car in Iceland many years ago, the government printed driving advice brochures for tourists. One of the main problems, it seemed, was that people were racing along country roads, not realizing that at any moment they might meet a sheep.
Animals on the road don’t really matter if you know how they behave. There are exceptions, but the general rule is:
- The birds will fly away. Drive as if they are not there.
- Cows, bison and similar animals are large and inactive. Slow down your car and now you are big and slow moving too. They will walk around you.
- Small fast creatures (rabbits, monkeys, etc.) are unpredictable; If you can slow down, try not to hit them, but don’t get into an accident while dodging them.
- Deer and other animals that travel in groups: stop, let them pass and watch your straggling friends.
As always, ask the people in the area what to look out for. They can tell you which animals to stop and provide other safety tips specific to your area.