Basic Safety Rules when Driving a Scooter in Bali

• Choose a RELIABLE Rental Company
• Always wear a helmet with a strap
• Protect your eyes (helmet or sunglasses)
• Closed shoes, no flip flop or barefoot
• Check the bike before driving off when you rent it (breaks, lights, tire pressure)
• No alcohol, no drugs!
• Expect anything anytime appearing from anywhere – no joke!!
• Don’t speed, anything between 25 and 45km/h is sufficient in most areas
• Roads can be slippery, particularly after or during rain fall
• Always watch the road for holes, stones, rubble
• Exhaust can be really hot when you rent an older model, watch your leg
• Make sure you have a  medical travel insurance
• Keep the name and mobile number of the rental guys with you
• Bring your International Driving License and National License with you

The 3 main Factors for getting in trouble with a scooter in Bali

Not adapting to the Traffic and Road Conditions

The traffic itself is a challenge. It’s different to what most people are used to at home, so it can be confusing, overwhelming. Even though it looks as if there are no rules, there are indeed rules that everybody in a way knows and plays along with. But you need to be alert all the time, watch the road, anything can enter the road from anywhere.

Overestimating yourself and your scooter driving skills

Accidents with scooters and motorbikes happen, very often. Most accidents with tourists happen because they overestimate themselves and their driving skills. Driving too fast and not knowing how to efficiently break when it is needed! It’s very easy, even for beginners getting used to two motorised wheels, to drive fast, but to control a difficult situation, to break hard, or to take narrow curve is something that needs practice. 

Recklessness, stupidity, drinking (and unfortunately drugs) – leaving Bali in a Box

It can be tempting to drink a few Bintang beers, and drive back home on your scooter in the middle of the night and save on the taxi fee. But you would not be the first one who would leave Bali in a wooden box because a dog crossed your way in the darkness, a truck appeared without lights, or a hole in the street was the last thing you remember when waking up in the hospital.

The potent mixture of holidays, alcohol, excitement, holidays and testosteron somehow “inspires” some tourists to simply drive too fast and reckless. They endanger not just themselves but also others, And there was plenty of social media roar in the last few years, where the Balinese complained about this behaviour and lack of respect.

And, not to forget, the Noise Cancelling headset. A new but dangerous trend. One needs to be absolutely alert when drigin in Bali, and

The Basics of Bali’s Traffic

Traffic is on the left side like in the UK

• Horn means: Please notice me, it’s not a sign of aggression
• Many narrow roads, not many signs. Always bring your phone using a map-service (google maps or Wayz)
• Your side of the road, will be used by many others that come from the opposite direction. You don’t own the road or have the right of way as you are probably used to.
• Trucks and cars can overtake recklessly and expect you to make space – in any direction
• You will share roads with dogs, chickens, cows, children, fallen coconuts, parked vehicles, piles of sand.
• Changing lines without using the indicator is normal, expect anybody to change lane anytime
• Road conditions can be bad and change overnight
• Roads get closed off for processions
• Traffic flow is rarely faster than 30-40km/h
• Main roads (Jl. Bypass….) ca. 60-70km/h

It’s your responsibility to adjust, because: Anything can happen – anytime. And Anything will happen, if you drive around long enough. 

Anybody can and does enter a main road at any time without looking. Here one of the main rules applies: Whatever you can see in front of you is your responsibility. So a motorbike driver cutting into your main road believes that you will notice him and that you would make space or slow down. If you want to overtake somebody you MUST use your horn, so they know you are coming; otherwise, they might move right or left unexpectedly. Also here, the unwritten rule applies, that you need to notice and adapt to what is or appears in front of you.

Rather drive too slowly than too fast.

Road Conditions

Construction trucks deliver sand, stones, building material to building sites. More often than not, this load will be dumped on the roadside. Nobody is offended and navigates around this pile because this is how things are here. At best, they put a stick or tree branch in it to warn you. Something very difficult to see, when it’s dark.

Small stones, loose chippings sand and if so rain creates a surface where your tire loses grip easily. Particularly when the street is wet, or in curves.