A map, a motorist’s essential tool

Dec 22, 2003

A motorist’s most essential tool beside spanners, pliers and jerks, is a map. I learnt this during my short sojourn in the Scandinavia.

By Jean Marie Nsambu
in Helsinki, Finland


A motorist’s most essential tool beside spanners, pliers and jerks, is a map. I learnt this during my short sojourn in the Scandinavia.

With a map, it becomes easy for a motorist, even one driving in a city for the first time.

I hardly had a clue, finding my way around these European cities, moreover driving. But, in print are maps of every city, detailed to the smallest geographical feature. You would not fail to read your way to the point of destination.

Every road named appears on the map. Now and again, these maps are updated whenever there is a major change in the road system.

Copies can be secured from the Post Office, free of charge.
Map reading, in my recollection, was not one of those interesting topics at high school. But , in no doubt it comes in handy for a driver in Europe.

There are very many access roads, motor or highways that if a motorist missed their way, it may take them a number of turns before they are back on the right way. In addition, there are directions along the way.

At all times the driver must be attentive. It is unusual for one to stop in an area, slide down their window and ask for the directions from passers-by. In any case, everybody is to themselves, that they will hardly attend to you.

Furthermore the roads, some of which fly over each other, have fine tarmac with wide lanes and generally disciplined and considerate driving, that it is so easy for one to get carried away while driving.

Where the lanes zip into one, you feel like a star in a movie of a racetrack. By the time you realise, you have taken the wrong route.
Such was the hiccup during my driving in Goteborg, Sweden and Helsinki in Finland. If it were not for one of my host’s suggestion that she assists me as a co-driver and map-reader, I would have been a culprit of excessive speeding and jumping traffic lights.

Virtually every road has a speed limit, traffic lights at every turn or junction and zebra crossings for the pedestrians.

But, with a Mitsubishi Space Wagon, MX, 5-speed geared car, I am finding it hard to synchronise my driving with the road regulations. With these all-through-fine roads, the car is compelling me, albeit inadvertently, to keep down the accelerator.

In Britain and many other Commonwealth countries, it would be the wrong side if a motorist kept right! But, in Uganda and a number of other African countries whose motorists keep left, some undisciplined drivers successfully force their way on the right.

That is why I am not finding it that difficult driving on the right side of the road, here in these Scandinavian countries.

It is the speed-limit polls studded all over that are, but simply my only huddle. They are the prevention to having that speedometer read the Space Wagon’s maximum 220kmph.

Indeed strapped with seat belts, we have just come near to flying through the wind screen, do to abrupt braking. The sharp step on the brake-peddle, to save a female cyclist crossing the road, has got me close to cutting my teeth into the steering wheel.

Any slight motor accident involving a pedestrian in these countries, can cause the cancellation of one’s driving license.

Once again I brake abruptly on hearing my co-driver piercingly scream, “Stoppp!” incidentally, it has been to let a very small squirrel cross the road.

My heart regaining its pulse, I tell my co-driver how often times vehicles run over bigger animals like dogs, on city and trunk roads in Uganda.

“I see no reason why a microscopic rodent, inconsiderate of other road users should bring us to a sudden halt.”

But, she reminds me, as well, that animals have protected rights.
Maps also indicate which roads may be under repair or reconstruction. Roads in Europe are generally constructed to last a particular period.

When that time elapses, the road is re-done, even though it may not have had any wear or tear.

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