I once considered a career as a Formula One race car driver. I think I was 7 years old. I’ve driven cars and motorcycles all over the world and have pretty much held my own. Standard shift or automatic transmissions are putty in my hands, until you get to a roundabout.
I know they were developed to help improve the flow of traffic, but whether in Vietnam, Italy, Philippines, Spain, UK or the Cayman Islands, roundabouts scare me to this day! This from someone who walks around snakes and spiders on the way to the dentist with a smile on my face.
Coming up on one starts my heart racing as I jockey for position trying to remember the rules and wondering which of my fellow, heart-racing commuters will completely ignore them.
I once considered buying those fancy driving gloves in the hopes of providing me more self-confidence. I would only put them on as I approached the merry-go-round of vehicles, some going twice the speed limit in the WRONG lane.
I have also considered supplicating myself to the giant roundabout creator in the hopes of safe passage. I have toyed with the idea of a bumper sticker – ‘I’m in the correct lane, are you?’
However, I’m not good with conflict so I simply hold my breath until I’m safely out of the roundabout. With heavy traffic days, I can now hold my breath up to two minutes, which has proven invaluable during free-diving lobster season.
Speaking of the sea, I’ve crossed paths with hundreds of sharks and none of them have constricted my bowels like a speeding dump truck turning from the wrong lane in a roundabout!
So, I’ll kindly ask the drivers of the Cayman Islands to buckle up, no texting while driving, no make-up applications, no drinking, no speeding and most important of all – BE CAREFUL on those roundabouts as you might encounter a vehicle with a frightened baby on board – me!
Bob Nickoles
Related Videos
