Cheap car hire Nicaragua - Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

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Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: Driving at night on rural roads outside major cities is also discouraged. Driving is on the right side of the road in Nicaragua. However, the similarities end there. U.S. citizens will encounter road conditions and driving practices significantly different from those in the United States. The information below concerning Nicaragua is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstances.

Safety of Public Transportation: poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: none

Motorists driving to Nicaragua should use the principal highways and official border crossings at Guasale, El Espino and Las Manos between Nicaragua and Honduras and Penas Blancas between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Although some of the principal highways connecting the major cities are in good shape, drivers should be aware that seasonal, torrential rains take a heavy toll on road conditions. Motorists are encouraged to prepare accordingly and may want to carry a cellular phone in case of an emergency.

Road travel after dark is especially hazardous in all areas of the country. With a few exceptions, Nicaraguan roads (not major highways) are in poor repair, potholed, poorly lit, frequently narrow, and lack shoulders. Many roads severely damaged as a result of Hurricane Mitch in October 1998 have not been repaired.

On the other hand, some of the major highways and roads are undergoing major repair, repaving and upgrading. Be on the lookout for detours and slow traffic on these roads. In general, road signs are poor to non-existent. Bicycles, oxcarts, horses and vehicles without lights are at times encountered even on main thoroughfares in Nicaragua. Motorcycles, often carrying three or even four passengers, dart in and out of traffic with little or no warning. Many vehicles are in poor condition, travel very slowly and are prone to breaking down without warning. Drivers should be especially careful on curves and hills, as many drivers will pass on blind spots. Speed limits vary depending on the type of road, but because the government lacks the resources, traffic rules are rarely enforced.

Due to the age and disrepair of many vehicles, many drivers will not signal their intentions using turn indicators. Rather, it is common for a vehicle operator to stick his hand out the window to signal a turn. If you do drive in Nicaragua, you need to exercise the utmost degree of caution, drive defensively and make sure you have insurance.

Avoid riding the many different shapes and sizes of buses stopping anywhere on the road to pick up passengers. They are overcrowded, unsafe and often are used by pickpockets. Because of the conditions discussed above, traffic accidents often result in serious injury or death. This is most often true when heavy vehicles, such as buses or trucks, are involved. Traditionally, vehicles involved in accidents in Nicaragua are not moved (even to clear traffic), until authorized by a police officer. Drivers who violate this norm may be held legally liable for the accident.

Nicaraguan law requires that a driver be taken into custody for driving under the influence or being involved in an accident that caused serious injury or death, even if the driver is insured and appears not to have been at fault. The minimum detention period is 48 hours; however, detentions frequently last until a judicial decision is reached (often weeks or months), or until a waiver is signed by the injured party (usually as the result of a cash settlement).

Visitors to Nicaragua might want to consider hiring a professional driver during their stay. Licensed drivers who are familiar with local roads can be hired through local car rental agencies. In case of accident, only the driver will be taken into custody.

Regulations governing transit are administered by the National Police. For specific information concerning Nicaraguan drivers permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, you may wish to refer to the National Police website at http://www.policia.gob.ni/. You may also contact the Embassy of Nicaragua or a Consulate for further information.