Driving in Goa
 

We are going to borrow a car from a friend and I was wondering what the correct procedure is if you get pulled over by the Police. Also are there any funny driving rules and parking restrictions. I would hate to find that the car had been towed away assuming that the do tow cars in Goa or is that just something we have to put up with in London?

Re: Driving in Goa
 

If you follow the rules and the displayed traffic signboards there shouldn't be a problem.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Better way,close your eyes and pray..............

Re: Driving in Goa
 

JCbrum,
I did not u/stand your statement.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

If you regularly (i.e. daily) drive on UK motorways & in city centres you won't have a problem in Goa. I know motorcycles are regarded as unsafe but I feel better riding a bike in Goa than I would driving a car - in bigger towns on a bike it is quite amusing with the teeming volumes of traffic and the speeds are slower so as long as you keep your wits well about you, you should be fine - I find having my wife on the back of the bike screaming at me does help me focus on the driving & ignoring her! :rofl::rofl:

Regards

Hemingway

Re: Driving in Goa
 

My husband drives in central London several times a week so he should not have too much trouble. We usually rely on taxis to get around and have had several near misses over the years including crashing into a couple of bikes. Recently we have found that they have been getting more expensive and as we often visit early or late season there have been times when we can't find one at all.
I will be the one screaming the instructions whilst trying to read the map assuming we can find one.
How much is petrol, I presume it is a little cheaper than in the UK.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

I mean you take your life in your hands driving here.We went to Panjim today and i must have seen at least 5 near misses but, my wife drives here so maybe it's just me.

John

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Does anyone know of a good reliable driver with a large car/van that could be looking for full time employment come Nov.1, with a private family?

Re: Driving in Goa
 

We have had several so called good reliable drivers over the past 15 years but it always ends up in an argument. What starts off as a good arrangement is usually spoiled by greed. As they say familiarity breeds comtempt.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

I do know someone reliable, he has his own vehicle "toyota qualis" I can ask him if you are really interested. He does airport transfers for the guests in my apartments. Please state the number of days required.

Jcbrum:
I totally agree with you but things will improve. Atleast we should follow the rules and set examples.

Powerhouse:
I disagree with your statement my family has a driver who has been with them for the last 30+ years. It all depends on how you treat him. Or else you did not find the right driver.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Milward,
A am glad to hear that you have had a good experiance, and you are right about getting the right man for the job.
Our last driver was with us for around 4 years. At first all was fine then he purchased another taxi and started sending friends to collect us. Often they were late or did not show at all. His brother would often arrive with his wife and then do a round the houses trip collecting his children from school. All of this would be charged to us.
The final trip was when we went to Mapusa, his brother arrived 45 minutes last, with his wife and daughter, took his daughter to school and his wife to her friends in Mapusa. We said we did not want him to wait as we did not know how long we would be, he called our regular driver who told him to charge us Rs600. We eventually took a taxi home to Candolim for Rs250. If he ahd beene fair to us we would still be with

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Petrol is about 55 rupees a litre, maps are easy to find but of little use to find your way around, bikes and scooters drive anywhere, on either side of the road, and at times overtake on the inside and the outside and try to go over the top as well. They can be like a swarm of wasps and none will wait at a junction but just come straight out.
Everybody cuts corners so approach carefully and use the horn as often as you can. Car, truck and bus drivers make up the rules as they go along, the bus drivers are extremely dangerous.
Talking of which buses are cheap and run often, 8 rupees to Panjim, but we get off at the ferry and cross for nothing, but be careful on the ferry at rush hour it is chaos.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

It is mad driving around in Goa. Road rage is quite common.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

I totaly agree and if you are not a local than the locals of that area have an upper hand (might is the right). I prefer public transport all times.

Just for information sake now Goa has a public emergency number 108

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Sounds rather like central London in the rush hour.

I wll have to let you know how we get on, assuming that we survive.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Do they understand English when you dial 108 :confused:

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Yes they do understand english, there are 108 ambulances and they are in operation, hope this is a positive thing for Goa.
Personally i love driving here (car) but you do need to be on the ball all the time as some indian drivers (domestic) make stupid errors which could lend to major accidents, like some FN's they have never been on a bike in their life let alone driving here and the roads/cows/dogs are clearly a hazard.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

in retrospect my driving instructor's advice was good -
Slow Slow! more horn! less mirror more horn!!

AndyD 8-)#

Re: Driving in Goa
 

All will be revealed when we get the car on Wednesday. We are both looking forward to driving around for the first time and will make sure that we take care.
Thank you to all who have replied, I always enjoy reading the posts on this site it makes me fell a little closer to Goa when I'm not there

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Powerhouse give me the registration number, car make and area you will be travelling in and i will avoid it:rofl: only joking :rofl: drive like you do in the uk and take no prisoners!!!!good luck:thumbsup:

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Goans are not that bad! I am not sure why Goans are looked like they live in jungles. If you look at history some of the goans have made a name for themself in this world.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Foru.../scholars.html

Re: Driving in Goa
 

All the best! Go slow and watch out for overtaking vehicles on the left side, sad but facts. For emergency call 100 or 108

Re: Driving in Goa
 

If you generalised the people that answer any phones in Goa its takes alot of patience and time to understand them and for them to understand you, let alone going into shops etc the answer is yes they are that bad and the educated goans will not be answering phones and be in shops but hey we are in India so you have to expect a language barrier of some sort.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

The Goan's would have a fit if I tried to drive, I'm far too slow for them and luckly the car we are borrowing has a manual gearbox and I have only driven automatics for the past 20 years. On the other hand if you see a Wagon A bunny hopping in Candolim I amy be me having a go.

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Our driving experience in October was very positive, however we did have a couple if hair raising situations even though the roads were very quiet.

We are going to have another go when we arrive next week and I was wondering how busy the roads are compared to other years, bearing in mind the apparent lack of tourists,

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Much quieter,bit of a build up of lost,dithering and dangerous MH and KA plates this week ready for the big night tomorrow.
By the time you get here on 7th. it will just be the normal chaos, but at least folk will know where they want to go !
;);)

Re: Driving in Goa
 

I have been driving in India full time for 5 years now and I love it. My main piece of advice is drive like you own the road. (or at least your side). Other vehicles will fill any space available and the more you give the more they'll take!!! Always use you horn (before passing) as many just turn accros the road without indicating etc. Putting your beam on means that you're coming through and tells the on coming traffic to more out of the way (or at least give you space to get through). If you're on a scooter etc - stay well away from dust/gravel at the side of the road, many tyhe accident has taken place there! (not with me thankfully). Out of my 5 years in Goa I have had two very small accidents (first was when i was overtaking an old man on a bike that then decided to turn accross the road with no signals or looking!!! - the second was when I hit a patch of oil on a bend going down to Palolem on the lovely hill type bends, bike just slipped away (was only going slow at that point but had no chance). Another close call was when my tired exploded on the highway and I had a rather wavey back end which wanted to come in front of the bike I was going about 50 at the time so no idea how I controlled it (very scarey). But most of the time if you are aware of everything around you then you shouldn't have a problem. We general idea is to go faster than the rest as then you don't have to worry about the idot's behind you! - Just the ones in front.

Some confusing points - sometimes drivers put their right indicator on to allow you to pass (still confuses me!) - as you would expect normal people to say don't pass because I'm truning right

Flashing lihts means the opposit to what it does in the UK

Don't assume one ways are one ways!

What ever you're driving enjoy it and be safe!

Rob

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Maybe you should have put a "fresh" one on earlier?

Regards

:eek: Johnny Five speeling mistakes to the paragraph :eek:

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Is a Wagon A an early version of a WagonR ?
:):)

Re: Driving in Goa
 

No it's a typing error

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Thought it was...only having a larf !!
Pam and gang to Sweet Chiili tonight.Linda to Taj and us to Over the flames.
Suppose you'll be entertaining the troops ! Never mind won't be long now.
Have a good one,all the best to you and Steve.
:thumbup::thumbup:

Re: Driving in Goa
 

Happy New year to all, we are going to a friends house later for a few drinks, can't be too late as Steve has to work tomorrow collecting equipment. Temperature has reached 3 deg so we are almost sunbathing. we are both looking forward to next week, just make sure the sun is shining.