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Local Items: Speedy Drivers
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives - 2008: Speedy Drivers
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3222) on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Am I driving slower or are folks driving a lot faster. Everyone seems to be in such a hurry. I wonder if the building boom equates with faster lifestyles. Slow down people..what's the rush?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Antony Bond (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #365) on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 3:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm with you Ann.

I used to love nothing more than a slow cruise along the boulevard to remind myself why I came to Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tribs, Live From Bonaire in 10 Months (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6467) on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 4:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I noticed it too. Normally you just had to relax and settle in behind the very slow drivers, but this past trip there was no in between. Either people were driving like maniacs or slowly moving along. I was passed by many locals, something that has never happened to me before.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2818) on Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 8:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sounds like here in southwestern CT. And likely the rest of the US, and the world, where there are lots of cars.

Here you can be passed anytime, anywhere by someone going 10-15 mph faster than you are, or the speed limit. Don't ever change lanes on a freeway without looking back! Welcome to today!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brigitte Kley - Coco Palm Garden (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #734) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 7:07 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Between airport and the salt pans and along the road to Sorobon it is horrible ! These speeders don't even slow down by the houses of Belnem.... I miss the donkeys, they slowed down most of these speedy drivers

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3224) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 8:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

B, I used to walk the doggies from Sabal Palms towards Sorobon. No more. It's not safe. On cruise ship day the buses fly back to get more passengers. Yesterday a tour company mini van passed me a mach speeds and sped into the airport. I think I may report the driver. It is absurd. The worse is now from the South heading past Cargill towards town. Residents and local industry staff seem to feel they need to hurry to happy hour or something...not sure what's the rush. Anyway, the people who drive fast won't read here so it's a futile effort. Nuff said.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise K ** Bonaire trip June 08 (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1982) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 9:07 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We noticed the same thing! EVERYBODY was passing me EVERYHERE! And they cut right out in front of you when they are coming in from a side street.

Yet, the cars on the rotary all stop for cars to come into the rotary, not at all how USA rotaries work where the vehicle on the rotary has the right of way and those entering have to work their way on.. (the circle, for those who don't call it a rotary)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Bellevue Condos ) (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1555) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 10:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

This is a pet peeve of mine. I've complained for years about this! EEG in the morning is like the Indie 500. It seems that everything on Bonaire is on slow island time, EXCEPT some of the drivers! The police really need to crack down.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tribs, Live From Bonaire in 10 Months (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6469) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 11:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Rules for the rotary: if you are inside and there are cars coming from the south or north, you yield (look at the arrows on the ground that point towards you = you yield). If cars are coming from east or Den Laman, they yield to those on the inside (no arrows on the ground inside the circle at these points). Rotaries vary by country....I always ask.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pietri Hausmann (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 12:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

apparently the rule of the road here is ME FIRST!!!! been here for over 30 years .. it is really out of control ... LBH to Playa is a speedway .. i work at CIEE- the marine research college semester overseas program on Kaya Gov.de Brot .. someday soon the excess speed will injure or do worse to one of the students .. my dismay? it's tourists as much as the locals.. where are you going?? watch the speed signs .. in Belnam from Windsock to LBH the LIMIT is 40 KPH. .i drive the speed limit and am passed by all.. also it is 40KMP from the first turn off left on Kaya International to the town ..for sure I am always passed .. i am at the point of thinking that only a horrible tragedy has to occur -and it will be soon- before the proper authorities pay any attention .. also it is illegal when riding in the back of a pickup to stand or sit on the sides .. you must be seated in the bed proper.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fid Chinoy (BonaireTalker - Post #70) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 7:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The police are out there. I got a speeding ticket out by the airport and then a parking ticket at MCB the next week (back in March or April).

Sometimes it takes a few days to adjust to the slow pace.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5905) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 9:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I've noticed the last two trips, that residents of the island were annoyed with my "island driving pace" and would bummper me until I either sped up, or let them pass by slowing down and moving to the right.

I only say residents, because it was obvious the vehicles were not rentals.

(Message edited by cyndelee on July 13, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3219) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 10:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We need more speed bumps, (dremples) in strategic places.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #571) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 12:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nope ... just a nice, stiff speeding penalty. I endorse confiscating the speeding vehicle for 72 hours, with no monetary fine. Once a few taxi drivers lose three days of business, they'll stop speeding, and once a few tourists have to pay for renting a car that they can't drive, they'll stop, too.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lloyd Haskell (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #240) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 1:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ann , I echo your message . No Bonaire Road Rage

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fid Chinoy (BonaireTalker - Post #71) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 5:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Considering the condition of many Bonaire roads, speed bumps would be redundant.

There is no need to impose additional fines or drastic measures such as impounding cars for speeding. Fines and penalties already exist but they are useless if there are not enough resources or effort to enforce them.

If anyone wants to drive at the pace of a speeding snail then feel free, but don't and moan when those of us who do not get a thrill out of spending time puttering around pass you.

Something to consider is that alot of people might not be used to driving in heavy traffic and may be unclear on some of the unwritten rules of the road. They may be cutting you off because they think they have the right of way or just are not used to judging the speed of other cars.

Personally I have not noticed any decline in the quality of driving on Bonaire however there are definitely more cars on the road. Maybe some of you are getting a little cranky and intolerant in your old age.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jan Klos - ( Hamlet Bonaire ) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #673) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 5:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

So I guess Fid is one of drivers speeding past those who wish to do the posted speed limits. After driving while on Bonaire at (or close to the posted speeds)for an extended period of time, it is very scarey the 1st day home. Considering most of the speed limits run around 25 to 40mph and under, where as the speed limits at home are much higher.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #572) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 6:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

"Most"? There are only two speed limits: 40kph (24mph) if you can see buildings, and 60kph (36mph) if you can't. Pretty simple system, and pretty reasonable speeds for an island like this. The accidents with donkeys and goats are nearly exclusively caused by speeders, and the rest of our accidents are caused by impatient drivers passing people that are obeying the limit.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pietri Hausmann (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 6:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

right on Kevin ... you told it like it is....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6864) on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 7:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I love the way folks driver around the speed bumps on Kaya Industrial....they actually drive/swerve into the oncoming traffic's path of travel (in the wrong lane) to go around the bumps placed there to slow traffic down at that intersection (near Lisa Gas).

So, I guess it's better to risk a head-on collision than to slow down for the bumps. I realize it is hard on the vehicles who traverse the same roads all the time but so is risking a head-on collision.

I'm one of those fuddy duddy's who slows for the bumps in the roads! LOL. cb

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Bellevue Condos ) (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1561) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well when all is said and done, I really wish the folks driving on Bonaire would just slow down. Last May we were proceeding north going through town at the corner where Julio's & MCB is, I was stopped waiting for the traffic to clear before continuing on when some joker who wasn't paying attention came within inches of rear ending our stopped vehicle. Then he looks at me like I'm the crazy one. Duh...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3226) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 10:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Booze is also one of the causes of many accidents. Yes, we do have too many cars but it looks like we will get more than our share once we have more wealthy people on island. Yesterday, there was a brand new rt hand drive merccedes parked out side. There are two Hummers and a few BIG Ford Suv's out there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5932) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 10:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Michael, with the price of gas...ouch on the hummers and SUV...YIKES!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2822) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 2:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

High prices, low mileage but short distances!!! Dana Point should be so compact!!!! Or CT! :–)))

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Yo MO - Meet me at the 3Day in Atlanta (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3739) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 3:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glen - I used to live in Huntington and my Dad worked in Bridgeport. After college I worked in Darien for a while before moving to Atlanta.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Natalie S (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #147) on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 12:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I noticed on my last trip in April that there was a lot more traffic than previous years. We were actually stuck in a small traffic jam in town, which was very odd, and it happened more than once. I also noticed the local drivers were driving more aggressively, but so were some of the tourists.

 


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