Their chances come infrequently, and usually at night. Military convoys take precedence, followed by civilian vehicles and buses. Most locals do not try to drive over the border. They take buses as far as possible, then walk through the checkpoints, their heavy belongings hauled by enterprising young boys with wheelbarrows. At the other end they board another bus to finish their journeys.
Military personnel are everywhere in Kosovo.
They glare at me when I try to take photographs of children selling cigarettes. The soldiers, wearing bulletproof vests and carrying automatic rifles, motion for me to put the camera away. I do not argue. When our lane finally gets a chance to move, the scene resembles the start of a race. Everyone hurries to get their vehicles onto the lane left open for traffic.