myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

I see from the forum that the speed limit is 30 mph, but are there any other items we should watch out for, personaly I dont advocate drinking and driving however very often when you go abroad you end up adopting verious servival techniques just to avoid the locals, eg, I never saw anyone but Brits stop at red lights in Turkey, and as for Italian scooters, enough said.
( Are the pot holes realy that bad )

Hi Tony

Welcome aboard!

Have you read my article on driving on Tobago (menu: Tobago/Getting Around/Car Hire/Introduction)?

Your post basically says it all. Driving on Tobago is not as bad as Turkey and a hell of a lot slower than Italy, but the biggest danger of the lot is that you'll be so busy taking in the scenery that you take your eyes off the road for that split second when some idiot comes round the bend in the middle of the road to miss a pothole (or because they are fiddling with the radio or talking to passengers).

Yes, the potholes are that bad in some areas. I wiped out the front spoiler of a hire car last March dropping into a rain-filled pothole hidden by a dip in the road (sorry once again, Sheppy!!!!)

An other problem is, many drink beers, rum and than they still drive their car when going home. But, the Government seems to take action against that even if it´s not a law yet.

In the Trinidad Express of november 4th they say "Drink more than three beers and if you are pulled over by the police, you could face a $5,000 fine or six months in prison and a 12-month driving ban under a new bill". It might be a law later on next year.

Hi Tony,

Yes - the potholes are really that bad - especially in the north of the island. (Think one of the bendy, twisty, very hilly poorly maintained roads up by Blanchland or the Wall!) But don't let that put you off hiring a car. It's worth it to be able to get to some of the amazing beaches (Englishman's Bay for example) and places like Speyside, Charlotteville, Castara and the rainforest without having to worry about bus times, taxis etc.

By the way - the speed limit may be 30mph - but only the tourists seem to take any notice! (Be especially aware of any construction lorries - they take no prisoners!)

Jane

Hi, I would just like to add another concern when it comes to the noble sport of driving on Tobago- the lovely tobagonian Night. Dark and mysteroius adn with a sultry heat it does hold many things in its embrace.
Dark cows, dark chickens and dark people of all ages, which all are´frightfully hard to see on an unlit road in the forest, especially if Your hire car has lights about as potent as a bicycle lamp. I always drive to Englishman´s bay after having landed in the evening but even if I know the way I must say that the experience borders on the "hilariously nerve- wracking" sometimes. From what I know of I have yet to run over anything living except a very large snake but I would suggest would-be motorists to show appropriate care when driving at night. Even when under the abstinence from caribs. Chrs

Hi Gang-
I just want to add one more item for consideration when driving on Tobago (or any other Caribbean island, for that matter). Please remember -- THERE IS NO PERIOD OF DUSK - as we in the northern climes are used to. At approximately 6:15 each evening, all of a sudden, IT IS PITCH BLACK!! So, if you have any spot of night blindness, make sure you're home befor then.

Joanne Green

You can virtually double the 50kph limit on the Claude Noel highway and then add some! There were cars and lorrys passing me like i was going backwards and i wasnt hanging around!
Overtaking on solid white lines is the norm too...you have to keep your eyes on your mirrors at all times! Having said that i love driving on Tobago