Driving standards????

[Trixiebell]

I've hired a car and taken it out for a spin this morning, and had to go for a lie down.

Absolutely shocking driving!!

Is this the norm here, or is it just particularly bad on a Tuesday morning???

I see a gap in the market if not!

[dizzyizzy]

bad driving is the norm here basically just try to stay alert 100% of the time and try to develop your clairvoyant abilities so you can predict the stupidity of the other drivers around you. Is not only the locals and lorries who are bad drivers, even expats who used to be good drivers back home acquire some horrible driving habits once they settle down here.

[bubbles]

You'll settle in quick enough. I for one love driving here.

[Mr Rossi]

It's the norm, some parts of Dubai are worse than others but you do get kind of used to it. Try going out on a Friday when it is a lot quieter to get used to driving on the 'wrong' side of the road and find your bearings, it gets easier when you know where you are going.

Develop a bit of a thick skin, if someone is flashing and honking behind you, try to ignore them until it is safe to pull over. Easier said than done but again comes with practise. Also on roads out of Dubai eg to Abu Dhabi, RAK etc you'll find yourself looking in the rear view mirror more, if you see a Land Crusier hurtling towards you pull over when safe to do so.

Watch when you are changing lanes, nobody will let you in. In fact if you indicate to change lanes some w*nkers will actually speed up and close the gap you were otherwise going to move into. I still indicate but indicate then move almost immediately rather than the mirror, signal, maneuver that you would have been trained to do.

Also as dizzyizzy said try to stay alert more than you would perhaps back home and try to 'read' the road ahead of you.

You get used to it over time, but never full relax with it either, there are just far too many *rseholes behind the wheel of a car here.

[DYLANJAMAL]

been only 16 days in this country and have the drive licence for the last 15 years (Canada)... have seen many other Arab countries (short term) .
admit UAE is the worst... I CAN NOT dare to drive....
no respect for the lane, no signaling, even on the highway you can not tell which lane is the slower than the other.... no rule at all....
was thinking to buy a car and put a "baby on board" on the back... but I am sure does not help...
for the first time I went on the highway (AD to Dubai) yesterday ( of course by Taxi)..
I saw terrible and the worst driver there... flushing and driving 160 km/h ( half meter or less following each car)....

From now I feel bad if I getting back driving habit with time here :-(

[Ella_and_Yousef]

wow i'm surprised that you all find it bad over here... i don't dare to drive in my home country Russia or my husband's Jordan - both are rules-free
i love driving in dubai and find it very safe... everything goes in comparison... no worries, you gonna get used to it, just remember:
1) 90% of the drivers don't look at you when they change the lane, so you need to look in all the mirrors to see them;
2) drivers who still dare to talk on the mobile even though it's fined are the most dangerous ones - they can kill a camel without noticing )))
3) use horn whenever you feel like it's gonna save your car
4) always check your car for scratches whenever you park in the malls as after getting the staff from the trolleys, many people just push them and they can easily heat your car
5) follow the rules and don't speed with drivers who have too much money to pay the fines

good luck!

[Andy Capp]

Originally Posted by Ella_and_Yousef

wow i'm surprised that you all find it bad over here... i don't dare to drive in my home country Russia or my husband's Jordan - both are rules-free
i love driving in dubai and find it very safe... everything goes in comparison... no worries, you gonna get used to it, just remember:
1) 90% of the drivers don't look at you when they change the lane, so you need to look in all the mirrors to see them;
2) drivers who still dare to talk on the mobile even though it's fined are the most dangerous ones - they can kill a camel without noticing )))
3) use horn whenever you feel like it's gonna save your car
4) always check your car for scratches whenever you park in the malls as after getting the staff from the trolleys, many people just push them and they can easily heat your car
5) follow the rules and don't speed with drivers who have too much money to pay the fines

good luck!

1) yep
2) I really don't think so, a camel would be straight through the windscreen, death to the driver - and camel meat to the locals....
3)Bollocks - i rarely use my horn....
4) Whatever
5) Surely it should be don't speed - or are you saying racing?????

X!

[catmul777]

i will be in dubai in 8 weeks and i can honestly say the thought of driving in dubai is keeping me up at night. Im seriously concerned for my familys safety. I cant understand why this kind of behaviour is allowed.....they need to seriously crack down.

[Andy Capp]

Catmul, don't worry, just be aware.....

[Anna returning]

Originally Posted by Andy Capp

Catmul, don't worry, just be aware.....

I'm just back after living here 1995-97. Driving was bad then, but I reckon it's worse now. (Although that might be down to sheer volume)
I've only been back behind the wheel here for 36 hours, and I've already lost count of how many close encounters of the dangerous kind I've had!
Doesn't help that I'm driving my daughter's Peugeot 206 CC ... tiny! Can't wait to buy a 4x4 so that I feel a bit safer at least.