1. It was always a joke amongst us expats in Jeddah (all the young Saudi lads drove flashy Transams in those days) that to pass your driving test there you first had to learn to drive with one hand leaning out of the window, dangling a cigarette, and the other hand permanently on the car horn. I didn't think all the impatient and random hooting bothered me until I was back in UK waiting for traffic lights to change to green - just as they went green the person behind me hooted their horn. I nearly got out to hit him! Moral of story. Delayed frustration? (and in UK not scared of the guy behind me too I guess lol)
2. We lived in Iraq during their war with Iran in the early 80s. When family asked if I was scared I told them I was more likely to die on the roads there than as a victim of the shelling. It was nothing to see a huge oil or water tanker coming towards you on a two-way road with another huge tanker over-taking the first, thus blocking your road and forcing you into the ditch!
3. In a car with a girlfriend of mine in Doha the other day. I said 'wow! you're brave, driving on these roads!' Her comment? "This is nothing! You should try driving in Cairo!" (she has lived in Egypt for about 10 years)
I don't hear about kids stealing cars and 'joy riding', endangering everyone in sight!, in this part of the world, so maybe at least that is something to thank goodness about!
1. It was always a joke amongst us expats in Jeddah (all the young Saudi lads drove flashy Transams in those days) that to pass your driving test there you first had to learn to drive with one hand leaning out of the window, dangling a cigarette, and the other hand permanently on the car horn. I didn't think all the impatient and random hooting bothered me until I was back in UK waiting for traffic lights to change to green - just as they went green the person behind me hooted their horn. I nearly got out to hit him! Moral of story. Delayed frustration? (and in UK not scared of the guy behind me too I guess lol)
2. We lived in Iraq during their war with Iran in the early 80s. When family asked if I was scared I told them I was more likely to die on the roads there than as a victim of the shelling. It was nothing to see a huge oil or water tanker coming towards you on a two-way road with another huge tanker over-taking the first, thus blocking your road and forcing you into the ditch!
3. In a car with a girlfriend of mine in Doha the other day. I said 'wow! you're brave, driving on these roads!' Her comment? "This is nothing! You should try driving in Cairo!" (she has lived in Egypt for about 10 years)
I don't hear about kids stealing cars and 'joy riding', endangering everyone in sight!, in this part of the world, so maybe at least that is something to thank goodness about!