Costa Rica Driver's Manual First off, not all drivers in Costa Rica are bad drivers and not all bad drivers are Costa Ricans. Many foreigners who live here have become “Tico” drivers and they spend a lot of their time cursing all the "other" bad drivers on the road. Driving in Costa Rica is based on one simple concept: Get to your destination as quickly as possible, regardless of safety considerations, road conditions, speed limits or anything else that is the way. Costa Ricans usually are tranquil, peaceful and patient. They will stand in line for hours at a bank or government agency, but when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle their Latin temperament kicks in and an “everyone for himself” attitude prevails. Swerving, stopping short, cutting in-and-out of traffic, ignoring stop signs, yield signs and traffic lights are a common practice. The numbers speak for themselves; almost 400 people lost their lives on Costa Rican roads in 2006 and this is a country of only 4,000,000+ residents. The billboard along the Fernando Prospero Expressway brings home the message that drivers in Costa Rica participate in a constant prize fight called "Ticos vs. Ticos". So, we thought that some tips on driving in Costa Rica those who are unaware of the informal, traditional rules and customs. 1. Wearing a seatbelt, though required by law, is for sissies. All drivers and passengers have the right to smash their head against the windshield or be thrown from the vehicle in case of an accident. 2. Drinking before and while driving is a traditional practice. When drinking while driving, the beer cans are commonly thrown out the window so as not to leave any evidence in case a Tránsito (traffic officer) pulls you over. 3. Speed limits. What speed limits? Those white signs with numbers on them are just decoration. Obeying the speed limit is for someone else and the idea of slowing down when the road is slippery is ridiculous. What do slippery road conditions have to do with speeding anyway? 4. Traffic lights, particularly red lights are another colorful decoration, certainly not something to pay attention to. Often the best practice to stop at a green light, since the car coming from the left or right will probably speed through their red light. 5. Yielding to traffic is for wimps. There’s no time to waste by letting another driver have right-of-way or permitting someone to cut in front of you. 6. Big trucks and particularly buses always have the right-of-way.  They are bigger. 7. Concentrating on your cell phone conversation is much more important that paying attention to your driving. 8. Never give right-of-way to emergency vehicles. However, if you get behind one, it is normal practice to tailgate them to avoid all the traffic ahead. 9. Parking anywhere, anytime and in any direction is a God given right. You can park your vehicle anywhere that is safe from being stolen. If it blocks traffic, or someone’s driveway, that’s not your problem. 10. If you see a friend driving toward you on a two lane street be sure to stop and talk to him or her about the weather, the kids, the mistress, etc. The drivers behind both of you may honk their horns but you are not expected to pay any attention. 11. The "rotundas" (traffic circles) are Costa Rica’s version of Russian roulette. Every driver, regardless of what lane they are driving in, has the right to cross in front of you to exit the traffic circle and it is bad form to give any sort of signal before doing so. 12. Tránsitos (traffic police) are a nuisance to be ignored, or at worse if they stop you, to be paid off to avoid the inconvenience of having to go in and pay a traffic citation. 13. Turning on your headlights at night wastes battery power and all drivers in Costa Rica are very conservation conscious. 14. Turn signals are nuisance. Imagine the boredom of the repetitive use of turn signals. The driver behind you can see you turning, so what is the big deal? 15. Driving the wrong way on a one way street is acceptable because obviously the signs are turned the wrong way. 16. The rules for passing on the highway are simple: speed up, swerve into the left lane, tailgate the vehicle ahead of you, honk your horn and then swerve back into your original lane. 17. Passing on a curve uphill is considered very “macho”. It is the responsibility of oncoming traffic to slow down and give you a chance to squeeze back into your lane. 18. The right of way on a narrow road or bridge is taken by the driver with the biggest vehicle. 17. The space between two moving vehicles or the space between moving vehicles and the guardrail or ditch, belongs exclusively to motorcycles. 18. Motorcycles are open game for vehicles. Pedestrians are open game for vehicles. 20. Leaving the scene on accident is a constitutional right granted by the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court). To those not living in Costa Rica our manual may seem wacky, but we assure you that all the points we made are not only true, but a daily experience of driving in Costa Rica, which leads to the question, are you sure you want to drive in Costa Rica?