Comments on: Braving the Pan-American Highway of Death http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/2013/01/braving-the-roads-on-the-pan-american-highway-of-death/ Just another blogs.smithsonianmag.com site Sun, 12 May 2013 14:12:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Bobbie http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/2013/01/braving-the-roads-on-the-pan-american-highway-of-death/#comment-1351 Bobbie Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:27:29 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/?p=5932#comment-1351 Bus travel in Mexico and India is similar to what you describe for Peru, and I also had a terrifying bus ride on a coastal road in the former Yugoslavia years ago, with the driver talking to people and constantly turning his head away from the road. Bus travel in Mexico and India is similar to what you describe for Peru, and I also had a terrifying bus ride on a coastal road in the former Yugoslavia years ago, with the driver talking to people and constantly turning his head away from the road.

]]> By: Carlos Chavez http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/2013/01/braving-the-roads-on-the-pan-american-highway-of-death/#comment-1348 Carlos Chavez Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:21:41 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/?p=5932#comment-1348 firstable, thank you for having this blog, this informaton has been so much help for me , im planing to travel from lima to brasil for the upcoming world cup 2014 , and i was wondering if you be able to provide me with some advice , thanks firstable, thank you for having this blog, this informaton has been so much help for me , im planing to travel from lima to brasil for the upcoming world cup 2014 , and i was wondering if you be able to provide me with some advice , thanks

]]> By: Jeremy in Florida http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/2013/01/braving-the-roads-on-the-pan-american-highway-of-death/#comment-1346 Jeremy in Florida Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:55:58 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/?p=5932#comment-1346 I think it's very smart that you are not trusting drivers on the Pan American Highway and getting out of the way each time a vehicle approaches. Drivers in Peru are not safe drivers. They take too many chances going around slower traffic and it results in the head-on collisions and fatal accidents they have all the time. I noticed this driving through the mountains between Paracas and Nasca. Vehicles would not think twice about going around a slower vehicle, even if it was a blind curve in the mountains, and there were speeding trucks coming around the corner every few minutes. Then my wife (from Peru) told me that a lot of the accidents are caused by poorly-paid drivers that are in such a hurry to get to their destination (or they are pressured by their employers not to be late) so they can pick up more passengers, that they take wild risks. I don't know if it's just a lack of patience or bravado but they don't have the safety regulations in Peru that they do where I'm from (United States). That bus ride you took sounds frightening. You would think someone driving a bus load of people they are responsible for would be more careful, even for their own sake. Pedestrians take ill-advised chances too. We saw a lot of pedestrians casually just walking across the highway. If pedestrians crossed interstate highways in the U.S. on a regular basis, we would have more fatalities here too. It makes you scratch your head. Hope you have safe travels the rest of your trip! I think it’s very smart that you are not trusting drivers on the Pan American Highway and getting out of the way each time a vehicle approaches. Drivers in Peru are not safe drivers. They take too many chances going around slower traffic and it results in the head-on collisions and fatal accidents they have all the time. I noticed this driving through the mountains between Paracas and Nasca. Vehicles would not think twice about going around a slower vehicle, even if it was a blind curve in the mountains, and there were speeding trucks coming around the corner every few minutes.

Then my wife (from Peru) told me that a lot of the accidents are caused by poorly-paid drivers that are in such a hurry to get to their destination (or they are pressured by their employers not to be late) so they can pick up more passengers, that they take wild risks. I don’t know if it’s just a lack of patience or bravado but they don’t have the safety regulations in Peru that they do where I’m from (United States). That bus ride you took sounds frightening. You would think someone driving a bus load of people they are responsible for would be more careful, even for their own sake. Pedestrians take ill-advised chances too. We saw a lot of pedestrians casually just walking across the highway. If pedestrians crossed interstate highways in the U.S. on a regular basis, we would have more fatalities here too. It makes you scratch your head. Hope you have safe travels the rest of your trip!

]]> By: Alastair Bland http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/2013/01/braving-the-roads-on-the-pan-american-highway-of-death/#comment-1343 Alastair Bland Wed, 16 Jan 2013 04:58:05 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/?p=5932#comment-1343 Hi Steve - I actually have noticed that exact thing, both here in Peru and in Mexico. Hi Steve – I actually have noticed that exact thing, both here in Peru and in Mexico.

]]> By: Steve http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/2013/01/braving-the-roads-on-the-pan-american-highway-of-death/#comment-1342 Steve Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:24:01 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/adventure/?p=5932#comment-1342 Awesome adventure -- I'm glad you guys are putting safety first. Have you noticed motorists will signal to trailing motorists when it's "OK to pass" by putting on their left turn signal, and "NOT OK to pass" by putting on their right signal? I've noticed that while bus riding in Mexico. It adds a courteousness to the traffic scene that I didn't expect, based on the apparent mayhem at play. Awesome adventure — I’m glad you guys are putting safety first. Have you noticed motorists will signal to trailing motorists when it’s “OK to pass” by putting on their left turn signal, and “NOT OK to pass” by putting on their right signal? I’ve noticed that while bus riding in Mexico. It adds a courteousness to the traffic scene that I didn’t expect, based on the apparent mayhem at play.

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