While many countries claim to drive on the left or right hand sides of the road the fact remains that in most cases driving is straight down the middle. Anyone who has ever driven in countries such as India, Uganda or Nepal will have experience of this.
On rural roads there is some excuse as in many cases these are little more than tracks which have almost no passing room so the general convention is to drive straight down the middle as fast as the vehicle will allow and hope that nothing gets in the way.
In many of the cities many of the streets become what is known as "variable direction one way streets" to seasoned travellers. Depending on the main direction of the flow of traffic, leaving the city in the evening or travelling towards it in the morning, the street adopts that direction with all vehicles competing for the centre line.
This can be particularly stressful for a first-time taxi passenger in one of these countries. Progress in the vehicle is accomplished through a combination of clutch, accelerator, wild gesticulations and shouts from the driver, and, most importantly, the horn.
The importance of this latter instrument is confirmed by American humorist PJ O'Rourke who when being driven in south-east Asia once reported that the driver abruptly brought the Toyota Landcruiser to a halt, in the middle of the road naturally, and stated that further progress was impossible.
A bemused O'Rourke pointed out that the engine was still running, the tyres were still inflated, and there seemed to be no obvious mechanical problem. The driver responded: "Horn broken!"