Off-Roading in Ethiopia
When a driver in Ethiopia flips on his left-turn signal, he means one of two things: “Go ahead and pass me,” or, more traditionally, “I’m about to turn left.”
The signal’s ambiguity is fertile ground for collisions.
Stacked next to the region’s other road hazards, however, the tricky custom seems almost petty. During a transportation survey in Ethiopia, JAARS personnel documented countless obstacles: “broken-down trucks, rocks, people, donkeys, baboons, cattle, logs, busted asphalt, and enough potholes to make the moon look like glass.”
Ethiopia’s dry season also brings dust clouds with every passing vehicle; the wet season ushers in thunderstorms and flash floods. Together, the list of hazards can seem like a movie setting, or the backdrop to a novel—a circumstance worthy of discussion and prayer, yet unfamiliar to most people.
For those traveling in Ethiopia, however, the list becomes a relentless, pressing reality.
Road hazards—whether frustrating, confusing or downright dangerous—are constant companions to language workers throughout the country. They are never a mere story setting; they are obstacles that heap stress, halt linguistic work and delay literacy classes.
Ultimately, the poor driving conditions contribute to:
- Damaged vehicles.
- Increased maintenance costs.
- Injured personnel.
- Emotional and physical exhaustion.
It was with this sobering reality in mind that two JAARS personnel made a visit to Ethiopia.
The pair, John Pepper and Mike Smith, trekked to the SIL Ethiopia center in Addis Ababa to host an Off-Road Driver Safety Course—bringing this unique training overseas for the first time. During their two-week trip, a flurry of classroom courses and hands-on sessions introduced students to basic four-wheel-driving and maintenance techniques.
Twenty-two people gathered to learn the fundamentals: Don’t press your clutch on a hill, even if your vehicle is going to stall. Drive “as slow as possible, as fast as necessary.” Don’t speed on maintained gravel roads—unless you’re interested in rolling your vehicle.
Then, students’ driving techniques were put to the test; each took the wheel of a Land Rover, charged with maneuvering delicate terrain. Some conquered rock-strewn hills, with shrubs slapping the sides of the vehicle; others navigated furrowed stretches of mud. A three-car “road rally” to a volcanic mountain crossed nearly every type of terrain discussed, including paved roads, stretches of gravel, steep inclines and washed-out paths.
Maintenance skills were taught in a practical way: students lined up their vehicles, popped the hoods and began repairing engines. Wrenches and grease-covered rags littered the floor; shouts of “Mike! John!” sprung through the air. The class learned to be creative in repairs—a metal tube in one Mazda, for instance, was soldered using the kitchen stove.
As a direct result of the training course, newer personnel began traveling outside the city to visit language projects. The team also expressed more confidence in navigating difficult terrain, as well as performing maintenance.
Though road hazards in Ethiopia are still relentless and pressing, these language workers and support personnel are equipped to face difficulties with poise.
“To know they’ve done a safety check, performed preventative maintenance,” said Pepper, “gives them more confidence in driving. ... Now they’ve been in adverse situations and driven through them.”
Since 2005, JAARS Land Transportation has trained more than 170 people in the basics of four-wheel-driving and maintenance. Our team also offers “Mission Adventure Rides” each JAARS Day, allowing visitors to personally experience the typical travel challenges faced by language workers and support personnel.
