Driving in Doha
Sounds like the driving in Doha is pretty crazy--I'm more of a city girl, and tend to ride on trains (plus, I'd rather not contribute to global warming if I have an option ;))....Anyways, not sure if I'm going to do too well with all the other drivers....are many of you provided with drivers, or do you usually plunge into the chaotic driving scene? I've asked for a driver, but I don't know if my HR folks here will be able to negotiate that or not---what's the norm?
Thanks!
I have to agree with a previous post, if you cant beat them then join them. Trust me trying to drive safely they way it is actually suppose to happen will take you no where. Instead drive like the locals do.. "when in rome.."
Remeber the bigger your car, the saffer you are..
Driving in Doha seemed to me scary and horrible at first but now I kind of enjoy it - really. In fact, I learnt few tricks such as speeding and zigzagging – so in that since very much a local (I still put on my seat belt though). You don't have do the same but there are few things you can do to prepare.
The first and most important I think is to familiarize yourself with Doha streets and most importantly round abouts. I would suggest that you drive around Doha on Friday and Saturday mornings (preferably with someone who has been here for a bit) which what I have done – the streets are virtually empty at that. Secondly, get to know and be careful of the round-abouts. Thirdly, watch out for both those who're speeding (mainly locals) and those who're slow but don't have much driving prowess (Karwa taxi drivers being the worst nowadays).
Luckily, there was much construction on Doha roads and it seems they're trying to get rid of all major round-about so driving is only gonna get better.
It's going be little harder not to contribute to global warming when in Qatar. Some friends - tree-huggers :) - drive 6v and 8v cars and are addicted to A/C because it get so hot down here (I recorded 54 degrees). But I think you should give it a try.
if you can't beat them, join them. :-) Start with going out in Friday afternoon, soon you will get used to it.
It's really not THAT bad. Some people drive aggressively, and the roundabouts seem confusing to people who aren't used to roundabout systems. But this is not Istanbul or Cairo or New Delhi -- driving here is not that scary.
Buy yourself a Transam Chieftain.........the only car ever made by Krupps ;)
Few people have drivers.
Depending on how senior your position is you might be able to get your employer to provide one although the norm is for you to hire a driver for a monthly salary of 1000-1500 Riyals.
Just take the plunge. Once you've learned the basics of local traffic chaos you'll be ok.
A major contributing factor is the diversity of nationalities taking hold of cars and driving them as they would back home.
Watch out for the (new) taxis, Land Cruisers and the occasional Mitsubishi Magna VRX whose drivers seem to think they're piloting an F-16 due to the presence of one large and utterly useless wing on the boot/trunk.
Also kids with caps barely visible above the steering wheel are a sure sign of trouble.