THERE WILL BE OBSTACLES IN THE ROAD Best taxi service in kochi kerala

You can encounter obstacles anywhere, but it's more common in the developing world. It might be a horse or mule pulling a cart or being ridden. It might be wandering livestock. It could be a disabled vehicle, rocks, or garbage. It could be pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, or other cars. Keep alert when driving in the developing world, because there will always be something in the road ahead of you. People and animals will walk out in front of you. Other motorists will make dangerous passes. There will be stuff in the road behind a building or blind corner. Make peace with this, and be prepared for it. You don't want to be surprised.

TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT

It's hard enough to figure out where you're going in a foreign land in broad daylight. The added challenge of finding signs and landmarks in the dark only gets worse when streets are poorly signed, the signs are in a foreign language, and there are fewer people around to ask for help. All of that is also compounded by the other challenges of driving in a developing country. To top it all off, it's not uncommon to encounter cars, motorcycles, trucks, and carts without any lights or reflectors. There's also no guarantee the lights you do see will correspond to what you expect, as people sometimes put white lights on the rear of their vehicles and red lights on the front. These challenges are lessened significantly in a well-lit city, but it's still tougher than driving during the day. Out in the countryside, it can be downright hazardous.

THERE WILL BE MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS EVERYWHERE

Whether it's because of narrow streets and a lack of parking or just economics, motorcycles and scooters are far more prevalent everywhere else in the world. Their riders will split lanes, ride on the shoulder, hang in your blind spots, cut you off, and more. It's your responsibility not to hit them, because they'll assume you're used to driving with them every day.

TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR RENTAL CAR

Even a mom-and-pop rental car agency will do a walk-around with you and identify any existing damage to the car. They'll mark it on the contract so there's no question later, but do yourself a favor and take photos as well. Odds are, the same person won't be checking it back in, and you don't want to end up in an argument over damage that isn't your fault. This is especially important if you're returning the car to a different location than you rented it, as they may not be able to get the other office to vouch for the condition of the car when it was rented. Better agencies will take pictures for you so there's no dispute about when they were taken, but don't rely on them. Take your own.

While you're poking around the car anyway, take a look at your tires. They'll most likely be in decent condition, but if they're not, you're going to want to know that before you set off. If you plan on any enthusiastic driving, it's also good to know what you're working with, because let's be honest, most rental agencies aren't putting performance tires on their cars.

BRING SNACKS AND WATER

If you're going on a long drive, it's best to get your provisions ahead of time. In the U.S., we're used to every gas station having a convenience store, but that isn't always the case in the developing world. Don't assume you can pick something up when you stop for fuel, especially when driving in remote areas.