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Have you ever been in a car that seemed to be moving a bit to fast on a road to small with to many other vehicles nearby? Spend just a bit of time in Guatemala and you will find yourself needing to travel someplace. This article is of course not to scare you from traveling to places like Antigua, Panajachel, or even other places in Guatemala City. Rather I’m just giving you a heads up that normal everyday traffic in Guatemala would…well…would not be considered normal in most areas of the US.
In the Summer of 2003, my friend Marcelo was driving from Palin to Guatemala City. On a four lane road he was driving at approximately 90 mph when an oncoming car decided to make a U-Turn directly in front of him. Marcelo’s car ripped the trunk almost completely off the other car and completely dislodged the bumper. Marcelo’s Isuzu Trooper slammed into the median and back across into the ditch. The other car sputtered off into the night without even stopping to check if Marcelo was OK. Marcelo explained that most accidents are never reported as the police will many times put both parties in jail until it can be sorted out. Wow!
All over Guatemala, we have seen incidents from fender benders to major collisions as a result of the lack of traffic law enforcement. However, they do have periodic drunk driving check points. Driving down the 4 lane road, suddenly you will see cars ahead of you swirve from one side to the other. They are dodging in between a make shift course set up right on the highway with old wheels on fire. The driver must manuever successfully through this course to be considered sober. The first time you come up on these things will startle you if you are not prepared.
Once coming down the famed mountain that leads into Antigua we passed a small tree limb on the road. We were not aware that this is the well known symbol of a disabled vehicle, or in this case mule ahead. Fortunately, Kristina’s reflexed were pretty quick. See the limb…move over!
OK so I was debating on posting this link. Here is a video of a traffic accident in Guatemala City. It isn’t ultra graphic but it is a little shocking. When you go there, just be aware. Watch the video by Clicking Here
