ROAD TRAVEL REPORT: COLUMBIA

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1 ROAD TRAVEL REPORT: COLUMBIA KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Authorities in Colombia estimate that a traffic accident occurs every ten minutes. Driving a car or motorcycle in Colombia is risky and is not recommended. The largest percentage of urban traffic-related casualties are pedestrians. In 1996, there were 17.5 fatalities per hundred million vehicle kilometers compared to 1.1 in the United States. ROAD REALITIES DRIVER BEHAVIORS Drivers tend to be aggressive and reckless. Drivers commonly ignore traffic laws and lights. This is particularly true late at night and in the early morning hours. Speeding is a problem. Drivers often lack adequate driver training. Pedestrians are seldom given the right of way. GENERAL ROAD CONDITIONS The road network has not grown adequately enough to accommodate the growth in the number of vehicles. Roads are often in poor condition and unmarked. Many of the highways in the interior of the country are deeply potholed and in poor condition. This is also true of the highways between the coastal cities and the capital. Roads are poorly laid out and lights are uncoordinated. Many bridges are believed to be inadequate for the traffic they carry and are in danger of collapse, particularly during the rainy season. Generally, there is no separation of motorized and nonmotorized traffic, making for a dangerous mix on the roadways. Road construction is frequently unmarked. Wandering livestock create hazardous road conditions. Guerrilla activity is one of the greatest hazards on Colombia s roads, particularly outside major cities. The guerrillas erect roadblocks and force those using the roads to pay a war tax. If they refuse, their vehicles may be set ablaze or stolen, and they may be assaulted or kidnapped. This kind of guerrilla activity is increasing. URBAN TRAVEL The condition and maintenance of streets and roads is generally poor. There numerous construction projects aimed at upgrading the infrastructure of most major cities. These projects contribute to the generally high congestion levels. Traffic is heavy. Drivers tend to drive recklessly and make unpredictable maneuvers. Traffic laws are often ignored and are rarely enforced. The risk of being involved in a road crash is high. ROAD TRAVEL REPORT: COLOMBIA 1 ASIRT 2006

2 BOGOTA: CONDITIONS USEFUL INFORMATION (CONTINUED) Obstructive new road construction and neglected old roads makes driving difficult. Traffic is undisciplined. Road rules are generally neither obeyed nor enforced. Petty crime is a considerable problem at Bogota s El Dorado Airport. The city s high altitude (8,600 feet) may adversely affect blood pressure and energy level. Allow for these factors when you begin driving there. RURAL TRAVEL The condition and maintenance of rural roads is poor. Dangerous hairpin curves, sheer cliffs and a collapsed road wrap the ascent from San Gil to Aratoca and the descent to Pescadero. Traveling outside of the major cities by road is dangerous because of guerilla activity. Use air services for inter-city travel when possible. NIGHT TRAVEL Avoid driving at night if possible. Poor lighting, potholes, unmarked roadwork, wandering livestock, vehicles with dim headlights or no lights at all, and stalled vehicles make driving at night hazardous. SEASONAL TRAVEL Roads in the Guajira Peninsua, northeast of Santa Marta, are not passable during the rainy periods. They are usually passable at other times. Guerrilla activity is likely to escalate during times of increased road travel, such as Holy Week (Easter) and Christmas, and during three-day weekends. They will set up roadblocks and otherwise disrupt travel. POLICE ENFORCEMENT There is a growing governmental awareness of the need to improve road safety, but existing legislation still does not provide a framework for effective police enforcement. Severe fines are given even for slightly exceeding the speed limit. Police are equipped with breathalyzers and radar equipment. ROAD REGULATIONS Driving is on the right. An international driving permit (IDP) is recommended. Contact AAA at An IDP is a legal identification document on which driving license information is translated into 11 languages, including English, and can only be used as a supplement to a valid driving license. Speed limits generally are 50 km/h in urban areas and 80 km/h in rural areas. Auto insurance is mandatory. Motorbike drivers are prohibited from wearing crash helmets that can hide their identity. Seatbelts are required for front seat passengers of private vehicles. Car seats are not required for small children, however, children under 10 years of age are not allowed to sit in the front seat. The speed limit in rural areas is 50 mph (80 km/h) unless otherwise posted. ROAD TRAVEL REPORT: COLOMBIA 2 ASIRT 2006

3 When involved in a road crash, stay at the scene until the authorities arrive. Leaving the scene constitutes an admission of guilt. ROAD RECOMMENDATIONS TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS BUSES The safety of public transportation is poor. U.S. Embassy personnel are not permitted to use bus transportation, due to the danger of becoming victims of robbery or violent crime. Bus travel may be risky. Attempts at extortion and kidnappings on rural buses are not unusual. Colombia buses are noisy, old and driven at top speed. In more remote areas, buses may be stripped to their bare essentials; tires often have poor tread. They all seem to be held together by a double set of springs at the back, which makes the suspension rockhard and causes a very bumpy ride. TAXIS The State Department warns against getting into a taxi that already has one or more passengers in it. The State Department indicates that taking an illegal taxi is dangerous. Drivers of these taxis will usually have a companion with them, and the taxi itself will have irregular markings. BICYCLES & MOTORCYCLES Motorbike drivers are prohibited from wearing crash helmets that can hide their identity. RENTAL VEHICLES Rental cars are available CRIME & SECURITY Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Its per capita murder rate in 1999 was 77.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. This is over thirteen times the rate in the U.S. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against traveling to Colombia. Citizens of the United States and other countries have been the victims of recent threats, kidnappings, domestic airline hijackings and murders. People of any age group are likely to be the targets of such crimes. Columbia has the highest kidnapping rate of the world. Some of the victims have been murdered. Most of these kidnappings have been orchestrated by members of terrorist organizations. (Be aware that the U.S. government can provide limited assistance in kidnapping cases. Colombian law requires you to contact the Office of the Anti-Kidnapping Director to resolve such cases.) Bombings occur in both urban and rural areas. Foreign interests have been attacked. The U.S. Embassy has restricted all travel within Colombia, both official and private, by its employees. Likewise, its employees are advised to use caution if they remain in the Zona Rosa or Parque 93 in Bogota past midnight, due to the possibility of foul play. The State Department indicates that the following methods are commonly used to rob tourists: o The drug "scopolamine" is used to incapacitate tourists in order to rob them. It is administered in drinks (in bars), through cigarettes and gum (in taxis), and in powder form Tourists are approached by someone who has the drug is concealed in a piece of paper. He asks directions, opens the paper and disperses the drug on the tourist. The drug renders the victim disoriented and can cause prolonged unconsciousness and serious medical problems. An alleged policeman approaches a tourist and asks to check their money for counterfeit U.S. dollars. The policeman then gives the tourist a receipt and disappears. ROAD TRAVEL REPORT: COLOMBIA 3 ASIRT 2006

4 EMERGENCY INFORMATION TOURIST ASSISTANCE The availability of roadside assistance poor. Tourist facilities are available. Price and quality vary with location. Information is also available from the Colombian Vice Ministry of Tourism. Their address is as follows: Viceministerio de Turismo, Calle 28 No. 13a-15, Piso 17, Santa Fe de Bogota, COLOMBIA. The telephone number is or DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Colombia is an earthquake-prone country. You can get information on dealing with natural disasters from the U.S. Embassy s web site at MEDICAL CARE Medical care is adequate in major cities, but varies in quality elsewhere. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for medical services. Hospitals in many cities will accept major U.S. credit cards. Air ambulance transportation back to the US may be necessary when Americans are seriously ill or injured. A US consular officer can help locate an air ambulance service and inform family or friends when needed. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid in other countries. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical expenses rendered outside the U.S. Medigap policies (plans C through J) cover 80 percent of what Medicare would cover in the U.S. for the first 60 days of each trip; a $250 deductible applies. Maximum lifetime limit of $50,000. Medicare Advantage may offer coverage for care abroad. Phone: ; website: EMBASSY INFORMATION The Embassy of Colombia is located at 2118 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC The telephone number is (202) Their web address is There are Colombian consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco and San Juan. The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenida El Dorado and Carrera 50 in Bogota. Phone: ( ) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After-hours emergency phone: /2110, fax: ( ) /2197; web site: U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla at Calle 77B, No , Piso 5 Centro Empresarial Las Americas, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia. Phone: ( ) , fax: ( ) ; [email protected]. FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) Gainsborough Road, Potomac MD 20854, USA Telephone: (301) Fax: (301) Website: [email protected] ROAD TRAVEL REPORT: COLOMBIA 4 ASIRT 2006

5 LANGUAGE TIPS Please slow down. Por favor reduzca la velocidad. Por-fah-vor ray-duz-ca la ve-lo-see-dad. Please stop. I need to get out now. Pare por favor. Necesito bajarme ahora. PAH-ray por fah-vor. Ne-se-SEE-tow ba-har-may a-ora. Let me off at the next stop. Permítame salir en la próxima parada. Per-MEE-tamay sa-leer en la PROX-eema pa-rada.? belts Does this taxi (this car) have seat Tiene este taxi/vehiculo cinturones de seguridad? Tee-enay estay taxi/vay-ee-kulow sintu-row-nays day segur-eedad? Call for help! Pida ayuda por favor! Pee-dah eye-you-da por fah-vor! Is it safe to travel by road at night? Es seguro viajar por la carretera de noche? Ays-se-GUro via-har por la car-ay-tayra day Nochay? ASIRT is a non-profit humanitarian organization established in memory of Aron Sobel, age 25, who was killed along with 22 other passengers in a Pamukkale Bus Company crash on the roads of Turkey. ASIRT 2006 Disclaimer: ASIRT provides this information as a service to the traveling public. This report is intended to represent general road conditions, driving environment, quality of public transportation, medical care and emergency response. It may not be totally accurate in a specific location or circumstance. ROAD TRAVEL REPORT: COLOMBIA 5 ASIRT 2006