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| The Lithuanian countryside - if your suspension can make it the, it can make it anywhere |
The drives on the other hand are surprisingly polite, and an
ignorant tourist can grant himself many a mistake before being horned by fellow
motorists. In comparison, Scandinavian drivers are much less forgiving. Traffic
is also less aggressive than in many other countries in Eastern Europe, like
for instance Poland. This is perhaps due to the fact the markings on the road,
for instance those separating the various lines, quite often are not visible,
leaving drivers to “figure things out for themselves”. In any case, driving in
Lithuania was much more relaxing than I had expected. Even though I almost
killed a couple of people, including myself, other drivers hardly raised an
eyebrow.
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| Driving in Lithuania sometimes calls for some patience with your fellow motorists |
Pedestrians on the other hand, is a different matter. In the
cushy west, we are used to these frail creatures of traffic being protected in
all possible ways. In Lithuania however, they are made much more responsible
for their own survival. Here, a pedestrian crossing is in no way a safe haven.
It is merely some stripes on the asphalt where you are more likely to be run
over than elsewhere. You can never take for granted that a car will give way
and let you cross, regardless of whether you are a small child or an aging
grandmother in a wheelchair. The reason for this remains a mystery – it could
the anything from some eastern resentment for weakness to some sort of national
psychosis. In any case, being aware of this fact could save your life.
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| Perhaps the most Dangerous Place in Lithuanian traffic. I may look peaceful, but death could be lurking around the corner. |
One should also be aware that all kinds of thing might
appear on the road. Not only potholes and drunk drives, but also anything from
strange objects pertruding from the surface of the road, to missing manhole
covers and stray dogs or farm animals. Particularly in rural areas. Although
such things are rarely dangerous, it is striking how most Lithuanians seem to
have learned to live with these things and find them rather unremarkable.
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A strange object protruding from the surface of the road.
Widely considered as normal in Lithuania.
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Although many smaller roads can be rather bad, with the
poorly maintained gravel roads connecting the smaller villages as the worst
examples, many of the larger motorways have great standards. Particularly those
connecting the larger cities like the Via Baltica. Those roads quite often
exceed the standards of many roads in the west, and in Scandinavia inparticular.
A simple proof that Lithuanians can build good roads that survives winter if
they want to – or can afford to. I suspect the chose to to constant repairs on
the poorer roads because this is cheaper than to build proper ones.
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| A properly constructed road |
Another rather annoying factor when driving on larger roads
in Lithuania is the many ugly billboards that litter the landscape. How anyone
can decide to change their cell phone subscription after seeing some tacky add
on a rusty sign in some potato field along the road is beyond me, but this
seems to be a considerable industry in Lithuania. Although it does not add much
to the scenery, it is perhaps an unavoidable evil. If nothing else, it is at a
good reminder that the country is now an integrated part of the decadent and
decaying west, where everything is for sale. Even the view.
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| One of Lithuanias many ugly billboards |
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