In many countries, traffic laws are clearer, fines are steeper, and drivers tend to follow the rules, but when it comes to driving, fouls committed by Colombia’s motorists have a lot to do with their culture, learned from drivers in the mid-20th century, who did not have certain rules to go by. These driving sins of Colombia’s motorists make the country’s roads uniquely challenging.
Many Colombians like to say, half in pride and half in jest, that “if you can drive in Colombia, you can drive anywhere.” But the boast doesn’t quite hold up.
Colombian motorists may display skill — few can weave through Bogota traffic without nerves of steel — yet ability is not the same as discipline. Impatience, disregard for others, and ignorance of the law define much of the country’s road culture, both in its crowded cities and on its winding mountain highways.
According to the National Road Safety Agency (ANSV), 2,529 people died in road crashes between January and April 2025, a modest 5.1% decrease from the same period in 2024. Behind those numbers lies a pattern of everyday misbehavior — a list of “driving sins” that endanger everyone.
Driving sins in Colombian cities
Running red lights and ignoring crosswalks
It’s common for drivers to rush through yellow or red lights or stop over pedestrian crossings, endangering walkers and cyclists. Despite stricter enforcement, the problem persists in Bogota and other large cities.
Honking without reason
In cities such as Cartagena, the car horn doubles as an expression of frustration. Drivers honk at traffic, at pedestrians, or simply out of impatience — sometimes before the light even turns green — creating constant noise and stress.
Blocking intersections
Drivers often move into intersections without enough space to clear them, obstructing cross traffic and worsening gridlock. Some cities fine those caught blocking the box, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
Failing to signal
Neglecting to use turn signals is one of the country’s most dangerous habits. Without them, no one can anticipate a vehicle’s movements, making collisions far more likely.
Illegal parking
Cars routinely block sidewalks, fire hydrants, and no-parking zones, forcing pedestrians into traffic and disrupting flow.
Using phones while driving
Despite campaigns, many drivers still talk or text behind the wheel — a distraction that reduces reaction time and attention.
Disrespecting cyclists and motorcyclists
Drivers frequently cut off or crowd out cyclists and motorbikes, ignoring safe distances and bike lanes. A common crash occurs when a driver turns right without signaling or checking the mirror, hitting a cyclist on the inside.
On the highway
Reckless overtaking
Passing on curves, hills, or double-yellow lines — where visibility is limited — remains one of the deadliest causes of road fatalities in the country.
Speeding
Many motorists exceed limits on straight or newly paved stretches, trusting their reflexes or their cars. Yet at high speeds, any obstacle — a curve, a dog, a truck — can be fatal.
Tailgating
Driving too close to the car ahead leaves no time to brake or swerve, a frequent cause of rear-end collisions.
Blinding others with high beams
Some drivers keep their high beams on at all times, dazzling those in front or coming from the opposite direction — a dangerous act, especially at night or on mountain roads.
Invading the opposite lane
In the Andes, buses and trucks often swing into the opposite lane on curves or inclines, risking head-on collisions.
Driving under the influence or while fatigued
Despite heavy penalties, driving drunk or exhausted is still common, particularly on weekends or long-distance routes.
Stopping without warning
Some drivers halt in the middle of the road without hazard lights or reflective triangles. Others slow down just to stare at accidents, causing new ones or creating traffic jams.
Improper lane use
Slow drivers often occupy the left lane, forcing faster ones to overtake on the right. Two slow cars sometimes drive side by side, blocking everyone behind. By law, the left lane is for overtaking only — a rule more often ignored than observed. Overtaking on the right lane is also not penalized by Colombian law, but it is clearly wrong.
Behind the wheel
Hand position
Few drivers keep both hands properly on the wheel at “9 and 3,” the safest positions. Many rest one hand on the window or gear shift instead.
Crossing hands while turning
Hands should slide together on the wheel, not cross over each other. Steering one-handed — or while holding a phone — is another bad habit.
Braking mid-curve
Misjudging speed, many brake in the middle of a turn, especially on wet roads. The result: skids, loss of traction, and wasted fuel.
Riding the clutch
In manual cars, keeping a foot on the clutch wears out the system. The left foot should rest on the floor except when shifting.
Taking eyes off the road
Many drivers glance at passengers while talking, drifting out of lane or missing hazards ahead.
Loud music
Music blasted through speakers or headphones can mask horns, sirens, or warning sounds — often the only alerts before an accident.
Driving in Colombia is often a contest of reflexes and nerve, a daily negotiation between aggression and survival. But beyond the jokes and folklore, the costs are measured in lives.
Traffic laws and enforcement can help, but real change will come only when Colombian drivers learn that courtesy — not cunning — is the true mark of skill behind the wheel.
Related: Colombia Recorded Its Deadliest Year in History for Road Deaths in 2025