Middle Eastern Driving

Recently, I happened across an article on Foxnews.com by Clarissa Ward about Middle Eastern Driving. It was so hilarious and true that I just have to quote it:

"The bottom line is, there are no rules. You can cut people off, forget to indicate, honk your heart out, double park, run red lights, overtake on the inside, and pretty much drive like an obnoxious lunatic — and it's considered perfectly normal behavior. In fact, if you try and drive cautiously and considerately, you will get very frustrated very quickly and probably never make it much further than the nearest junction.

Once you get used to it, driving here is actually very fun and quite liberating ... and can make driving back home a jarring experience! For example, on a recent trip to the U.S., I was coming up to a red light at a crossroads. I slowed down to see whether anyone was coming, before getting ready to move ahead. Fortunately, my friend in the passenger seat let out a blood-curdling shriek that reminded me that red lights mean that you really, truly have to stop and wait until they are no longer red."

Ms. Ward's article is only flawed on one front; there is a rule to driving in the Middle East, but only one. There are none of these pesky "who has the right-of-way when you're turning left/right, etc." rules. The only rule to driving in the Middle East is simple--BE THERE FIRST.

If you can be ANYWHERE first, whether you obviously have the right of way or not, whether the light was green or red, whether there are other cars in front of you or you are totally in the wrong lane, if you can get there first--you win. And the great thing about that is, nobody gets angry at you if you accidentally (or not so accidentally) cut somebody off.

I agree with Clarissa Ward's conclusion that driving here can be liberating. It is extremely unusual that I look at the speedometer anymore. Signaling is really a moot point. If you barely make a light, it's no biggie. When we were back visiting family in the States in March and April, I realized how crazy my driving has become and how unsuitable I am as an American driver anymore.

I can think of two obvious examples that greatly contrast the differences between Middle Eastern and American driving.

1. Police. It's been extremely rare for us to witness a police officer actually pulling someone over. Usually when you see a police officer, they are also driving in the same manner as everybody else. In fact, I'm quite sure I've been cut off by a police vehicle more than I've seen someone pulled over by one! With that said, it's very common for people to speed right past police cars that are on the roads. The first few times you blow past one on the road, you still feel that American guilt that says you shouldn't pass a police officer. But after a while, you get over it and they are just like any other car on the road.

2. Children in cars. Child safety seats are not the law, as they are in America. While our children ride in safety seats, we see lots of other people driving or riding with their children on their laps, hanging out of windows or sunroofs, sitting on the front or back dash or standing in between the front seats. It's amazing!

Augusta "Freedriving" Cherri