Driving in Doha

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oh i totally agree with you, i live in london for 8 years, and when i came back to doha, i started fighting on roads like everyday lool

i beleive yeah we need to have a strict traffic violation rules !!

To help you learn driving in Qatar, get a racing videogame....

I sometimes switch lanes 5 times in a row, on the same stretch between two roundabouts, without any signals (waste of time?)... when there's an empty spot in front of you, i'll squeeze in if I can do it safely... never had any accidents doing this...

If anyone is thinking to drive safely in Qatar,he is crazy!!!

no one can dive safely

everyday i have to mate with different  types of incidence

when i promise to drive nicely,someone come over me car and take place

so, i decide to drive randomly

if i need to take a place i go infront the car,when i see that

there is a space, i enter my cars head and than give signal

so he has no right so say anything to me

so QL Users

i advice you all to drive randomly,it will help you to free from accident...

bye

Driving becomes natural talent in the end, when you get used to the system you learn how to follow the flow. I used to drive slowly before and people are so impatient it's either they flash you or honk, because they want you to get out of the way.

Nowadays, I get used to the flow. Stay safe by being aware of checking all the mirrors and learn to give way, get your nerves ready for any silly moves other people do and learn the discipline on which lane to use wherever you're going, always indicate to let people know where are you going and if anybody makes you nervous learn to use the hazard indicator.

Just keep dancing, it will do you good!

Dear All,

Thanks for all your comments and advises. Appreciate that. I am now getting used to the harsh driving and would master soon I guess.

Once again Many thanks.

Cheers

krish

NIssan or Toyota !!! It will still kick Ur little mini cooopers Ass !!! maybe if u put the top down it will go faster like a sail boat :)

Get used to it. All these people are right. It is bad to drive here but it is not the worst place by any stretch of the imagination. Practice on Fridays and you will be ready for the other days including Thursday nights.

We can summarize it here:

Stage 1:

You are so confused, you are making a lot of terrible mistakes and can't avoid other peoples mistakes.

Stage 2:

You quit making mistakes, but still you can't avoid others mistakes.

Stage 3:

You are doing no mistakes and learned already how to avoid the other peoples mistakes.

Stage 4:

You are so confident and happy, thinking that you are the best driver on earth, then ... Boom I had an accident.

Conclusion:

Most of the mistakes are done by people who got no experience or so confident.

It is easy except for the dangerous roundabouts

My advice... Drive just as bad. It's all about confidence... The momment you panic your doomed. Imagine driving in a "nascar" game... not much different. Dodge whomever comes in front of you and avoid the slow coaches... Wear your seat belt and keep your eyes on the road.

Doha is easy. Our first Middle East driving experience was in Kuwait!

Charmed made that comment above.

I sooooooo know what you mean!

I used to live in Beijing (I'm British from UK) and I used to be awed by the chaotic driving in Beijing, how on earth there weren't more accidents I don't know.

But I had exactly the same thought as Charmed. The driving in Beijing was like some kind of beautifully anarchic choreography, with cars weaving in and out of lanes and around other cars with no indication, it was amazing.

It was like watching lots of dancers move fluidly across a stage without bumping into one another, just flowing past.

I like the way you think Charmed, you see the unconventional beauty in things.

:)

I guess that some people need to go back to the driving school and get more lessons. I doubt that this will work because the driving schools are the major problem. Most of the guys there are not professional at all and even if some are good, they won't teach you the best they got.

In my first class, that teacher start shouting at me that I TOLD YOU TO GO THIS WAY, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!! I just simply stop in the middle of the road and ask him, why are you shouting at me? Who do you think you are? If you are having a bad time, then I'm having a bad time being with you too, simply open the door and left the car for him. The second lesson was not better, when i get in the car that teacher [another one] was saying something like: Damn, even when we have no classes and try to get some rest they send me someone to teach!!!! I told him please, don't start this with me and as the previous teacher, I opened the door and left the car for him.

I want to know who is teaching most of the people this technique? This technique says: If you are in the middle side of the roundabout and you got someone on your right side, don't keep going straight and get out of the roundabout like that, you have to get out of the roundabout going to the extreme right no matter who is there!!!

The roundabout are another story and there is no even something clear about the roundabout accidents. If two cars hit each other side to side in the roundabout then it is both of them fault. Replacing some of the roundabouts with traffic lights solved the problem in some places, but it creates more problems in others.

Some people does not know what are the little lights that give you Orange color when you use them. How do you expect me and the other people to know where are you going if you did not use them? I'm not a witch or good at guessing either. Like hmmmm, he will go now to the right, let's go left!!!

My advice for escaping the horror of getting trouble in the middle of the roundabout is: Escape this circular monster as fast as you can. Some people go and wonder in the middle of the roundabout and let other people jump in front of them and then start shouting. This is natural if you will start wondering there, don't expect the other people to do the same.

I got more to talk about, but this is enough for today.

Thanks All

I wouldn't want my convertible hit by you...you probably must be driving some nissan or toyota!

Just let us know what time ur out in the car ZOYA so v can stay off the ROAD :)

I am taking the car tomorrow morning on my own. Thanks for the advice!

I am taking the car tomorrow morning on my own. Thanks for the advice!

like a ballet dance, you get to know what everyones going to do! I can handel it out here rather nicely now and dont worry about it at all!

however i know exactly how you feel and well done for admitting it! I didnt drive for months and months out here i was far too scared and the few times i did drive i nearly ended up in tears! it took my husband going away for a week leaving me with no choice but to drive and then i did it!! Now im fine with it i drive to and from work everdays and toodle around quite merrily! And yes i have picked up too many bad habits from being out here thou! good luck to you keep working on it and then suddenly one day you will be like " i dont care if you hit me" and you really wont!

Tip one: Get your front window covered, so you don't see the mess any more, doesn't make a big difference to seeing where you go!

No, seriously, you get used to the traffic pretty fast! If you are from Europe you have to get rid of the lane fixed way of looking on the traffic. Drive wherever there is space. Nobody will blame you for that even if they blow their horn! Everybody is used to it and I observed less major accidents than in Germany, where I am from! Just start 'swimming' in the stream!

I've been around the globe for a few years, and believe me, there are worse places than Doha! You just have to get rid of the European point of view (This concerns daily life at all!)!

try driving tomorrow morning. Friday morning roads are nearly empty and it is good to practice and get some orientation on the road (turning lanes on landmarks, that you can choose your lane in advance, etc.) That's the way I did it, and it worked out perfect! See it like a computer game: Beginner level--> Friday Morning, Intermediate--> any workday, Michael Schumacher-->Thursday nights!

'I'll take the car, honey' were his last words...

my license two weeks back and every time I take the new car I have to have my husband/friend with me. I know it sounds odd but I know I can't drive like how I used to drive whilst training. On the roads, they have no patience even if you are in the slow lane. I am hoping after a while I will be able to drive on my own.

roundabouts are scary. especially since no one really uses their indicator.

I guess in time(a long long time for me)..you learn to drive like the rest!