Why can't we all drive nicely

cuteydog...'Only one thing wrong with the driving in Qatar and that is you Brits stick to the rules!'

Im sorry but since when did sticking to the rules wrong?? They are there for a reason, your Indian friend has a twisted logic!!!

we are pretty good in blaming Qatari people , ,,, especially when they flash in an annoying way, but we forget ourselves when we drive too slow in a the left lane , or when some idiot drivers enter the R/A at a turtle speed from the right when u r still passing in !! i saw a lot of expats. (God knowes best which nationality they are) drive in that way in the R/A thinking themselves cruising at Cornish !!. the driving is not only a " S P E E D " issue, must notice that folks when u discuss this thread

I've worked in Saudi, Oman, UAE and Egypt but no experience of Kuwait.

I have taken compulsory company courses in defensive and desert driving.

Saudi and UAE are pretty bad, and Egypt is even worse.

But in my opinion, Qatar is the most frightening place I have ever experienced as far as driving is concerned.

BTW - love the Land Bruiser brand name - must remember it.

Sorry, but I meet more moronic drivers from countries other than Qatar (the law of averages dictates that I do - given that as expats we outnumber Qs by 5-1 at least). The idiots I hate most are the "drifters" who seemingly think if they slowly try to get into the lane I am occupying that the laws of physics don't apply.

Fortunately, I'm good at laying on the horn and driving at the same time. The patently insincere injured dignity expressions passed my way as a result are priceless.

It's not as if my car is small - it's an estate wagon - but I find the Yaris's and City's are the worst offenders as "drifters" - at least I can see a Land Cruiser coming.

There was a report in yesterdays Gulf Times...

"81% of those who died in road accidents during the last year were Qatari nationals in the 15-24 age group".

That is a rather overwhelming statistic.

Mandi

I agree. I don't know whether you have been to Saudi or Kuwait, but i assure you Qatar is degrees better.

I too have been tailgated by Landcruisers and its not a nice feeling. The best thing is to keep your wits about you and drive defensively.

It's not a mudslinging match, I just get very angry when people try to justify this appalling behaviour.

For example, one night I was driving from Ras Laffan into Doha on the North Road. Approaching the Landmark junction, I found myself the 'meat in the sandwich', trapped in between two Land Bruisers (apparently driven by young locals) who were racing each other.

I braked to let them pass and I was nearly shunted by another Land Bruiser who was tailgating me so close that I could not even see his headlights in my mirrors.

The 'racers' were grinning at each other and came within scraping distance of my car, I mean within an inch or so at 120kph plus.

The 'tailgater' made no attept to back off and I'd nowhere to go. Luckily the traffic ahead cleared and the 'racers' went on their merry way, totally oblivious of any other road users.

And that's one reason why I get mad when people say that driving in Qatar is 'not so bad'.

I can give you many other examples of similar situations but I think this is enough for now.

There was a report in yesterdays Gulf Times...

"81% of those who died in road accidents during the last year were Qatari nationals in the 15-24 age group".

Another field where the Qataris topped the Expats were in the health of age group of people above 60.

"However, at age 60 and above the rate is higher among Qataris than expatriates (48% and 14% respectively)" the report says.

Now Does Qatar issue work visas to people above 60?

Source : Gulf Times:

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=263171&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

I am not excusing their behaviour. As an expat, i have driven in a lot of countries and Qatar to me, seems quite civilized. you are welcome to disagree with that, but please don't turn this into a mudslinging match. I thought we were having a discussion, but if you wish, I won't participate.

Too many western expats in Qatar excuse the behaviour of their hosts, no matter how inexcusable it is, in order to protect their jobs and positions.

No principles, no integrity, no morals, no testosterone = nothing!

WE-WE-WE or only QATARI

My point was that moronic driving is not the sole domain of the local. Every year there are big accoidents in the USA, Canada and even the UK, when idiots drive too fast in fog, snow , rain etc.

i can drive with my pink bently :)

I have never seen any expat driving at 150km per hour on the Al Khor highway when visibilty is almost zero due to the morning fog!

But I've seen locals doing it, causing major pile-ups and deaths/injuries as a result.

I have not experienced great problems whilst driving here. Perhaps, I'm in a minority.

One other observation. We are quick to blame Qataris, but expats form the overwhelming majority here and I have seen quite a few number of moronic expat drivers on the road.

Driving Schools Should issue a Book "How to Drive" to every new licence application, in all the major languages (or At least in Arabic & English).

Some drivers have no clue what they should do.

Today a lady driver was waiting next to me at the signal to turn left. She should have been on the right side lane instead of the "U-Turn" lane.

When the signal turned green she turned and after turning left she started to cross from LeftLane-to Middle Lane-to Right lane without any care in the world.

"From your mouth to the gate of heaven."

Mandi