When drivers in a particular city admit to dangerous driving, you best believe that it is exactly how they drive.

How bad can it be? Pretty bad! Buses and trucks are swerving abruptly in and out of traffic, constantly accelerating to overtake large trailers while avoiding smaller vehicles like motorcycles and becaks (trishaws).

Their skilful manoeuvers would make you think that they will have no problem driving even with their eyes closed.

As it turns out, the driving skills of these Medan drivers are indeed very frightening. Motorcyclists, bus and angkot drivers do not stop at red lights. Vehicles do not slow down for crossing pedestrians.

Speeding apparently is not an issue and the practice of bribing authorities is rampant, hence allowing reckless drivers to evade penalties.

One of the most memorable is having to listen to the unceasing honking, while observing the reason behind each honk.

If you have been to Ho Chi Minh, the sounding of horns from thousands of motorcycles is probably the most unpleasant and annoying thing to go through. But the Vietnamese honk for a reason – to let others know that they are getting in the way.

Medan drivers however, are one-of-a-kind. If you have been on buses, trucks, angkots (mini-vans), bechaks, motorcycles, cars, and cabs, you’ll know that most of the time, people honk for absolutely no reason at all.

If the following reasons make absolutely no sense to you, fret not, because even the locals agree that honking here can be purposeless and just purely for the sake of honking.

Honking in Medan could mean many things and anything, so here are some of the possible explanations:

“Hi!”

“Incoming!”

“Move, I’m overtaking you.”

“How is your mother doing today?”

“Nice weather, huh?”

“See you soon!”

“Tell your wife I sent my regards.”

“Oh, it’s just me accidentally pressing the horn while trying to light up this cigarette.”

“I am just honking to the rhythm of this Joget music.”

Despite the endless honking and utter impatience, the Medan drivers are surprisingly very calm. Instead of getting upset, stressed out and mad, these friendly people flash a smile and wave at those who honk them.

During your stay, you will likely witness many minor accidents but not a single incident of road rage. People here are just so impatiently nice.

Despite all the negative comments from travel forums and cautioning by concerned locals, your stay in Medan and other parts of North Sumatra will be absolutely pleasant, and the people so incredibly nice and lovely.

This article first appeared in rollinggrace.com

Grace Ng is a serial wanderluster, solo female traveler, award-winning recipe developer and travel writer.