Top 10 List Driving in Sierra Leone
Things You Should Know
Things You Should Know
Interesting facts and trivia by Beau Chevassus
Photos by Beau Chevassus
Photos by Beau Chevassus
1. Virtually every roadside tree, large rock, or building is painted with Sierra Leone's colors of green, white, and blue. Why all this patriotic graffiti? Because during the 50 year celebration the government gave away free paint to everyone.
2. If you are an important figure driving along the roads here, simply put on your emergency flashers and pass traffic at Indie 500 speeds. For some reason, the flashers tell people you're important and people get out of your way.
3. There are barely any sidewalks in Freetown, so watch closely for pedestrians walking on the road. The sidewalks that do exist are simply pieces of cement that are placed over an open sewer gutter. These are treacherous to walk on because there are usually wide gaps between the cement. You do not want to fall into the sewers here.
4. When you are driving along and encounter blackened and charred pieces of land, these are the results of slash and burns. Only until recently are the locals learning that such methods destroy all the nutrients in the soil, thus making it extremely difficult for crops to grow.
5. Pedestrians reply heavily upon car horns. It is not unusually for a man to cross the street without looking. If you hit him, it was your fault for not notifying him of your presence. When in doubt, blow the horn.6. There are gas stations here, but you may also see road-side stands that hold a row of plastic bottles, which are filled with a mysterious yellow liquid. These are also gas stations. It is typically not wise to purchase petrol from here as the establishments frequently water down their gasoline.
7. It is extremely unlikely that a motorcyclist will ever buckle his helmet. Everything from a baseball helmet to a ski cap is used. Often the helmets are perched on a driver's head backwards.
8. The police in Freetown arrest taxi drivers and impound many vehicles because of expired licenses. Many taxi and poda poda drivers are ex-rebels who have been assigned jobs by the government--with absolutely no training. This is why the cheaper taxis drop you off in Waterloo, the town just 20 minutes from Freetown. The drivers want to stay well clear of the capitol's police.
9. Every once in a while you will see strips of newer asphalt across the road. During the war the rebels dug up chunks of the highway to make it unusable. The people fleeing Freetown had to sneak through the jungles because of the unusable and closely watched roads.
10. When driving through the dusty roads in remote Sierra Leone villages, do not be alarmed if the female population works with very few clothes on. This is culturally acceptable, and you will get use to it. However, be aware that a woman must never show her knees as this is considered scandalous. They must also not wear ankle bracelets, unless of course she is a prostitute.
And a freebie!
11. See these children below? They are chasing a vehicle that just got through their checkpoint. That's right, children often setup 'checkpoints' where they stop passerby and demand money for "fixing the road." Do not be alarmed by their bandito style, "Gimme five thousand!" while the oldest of the children brandishes a cutlass. While yes, you are only losing a mere dollar if you choose to give them money, in the long run you are simply encouraging their behavior. Be cordial and friendly, but these are not neighborhood kids running a lemonade stand. Think twice about reenforcing thievery principles in children, and if need be, drive through their little string that they drape across the road. The last thing Sierria Leone children need is encouragement of corruption and strong-arm principles.
