[Steeroid]

Driving has become VERY dangerous here and so the Government has taken the extreme step of publishing GRAPHIC pictures of accidents on newspapers and playing live camera shots and accident scenes on PRIME TIME TV with the warning "THIS COULD BE YOU!". There is also a "Name and Shame" section on Prime Time TV where live shots of cars riding on the hard shoulder and crossing red lights are broadcast publicly with the registration plate and names of owners, literally telling the world that these are the KILLERS.

We still see morons changing lanes without switching on their indicators, vans and buses driving on the fast lane (one such idiot caused ME an accident when he shifted from the fast lane without any warning and I took evasive action by exiting into a side road at 100+ kmph), racing each other on the streets IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, cutting in and out of 6 or 8 lanes.

Dubai is dangerous.

[heelntoe]

might this be an appropriate time to use the phrase: crazy <bleep> arabs?

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by heelntoe

might this be an appropriate time to use the phrase: crazy <bleep> arabs?

Nope. Considering that the local population is only about 12 to 14 % of the population that would be a very wrong statement.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Driving has become VERY dangerous here

We still see morons changing lanes without switching on their indicators, vans and buses driving on the fast lane..., screwb@lls racing each other on the streets IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, cutting in and out ...

Welcome to Bangalore.

[heelntoe]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Nope. Considering that the local population is only about 12 to 14 % of the population that would be a very wrong statement.

oh.

it doesnt matter where you are, it seems that there are always bad drivers around.

[cheap_deal]

You Decide

here is the site which got pics of speeders and red light jumpers along with license plate. chk out the red range rover dude clocking 200+ kmph on 2 seperate days!!!

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by cheap_deal

chk out the red range rover dude clocking 200+ kmph on 2 seperate days!!!

Must be a RR Sport - that thing is insane, the power is too much for an SUV and its ridiculous in anything but a straight line. It is dangerous on the highways and gets itself stuck thanks to too much torque when it goes off the road. If ever there was a vehicle that was BUILT to be dangerous this is it.

Read these:

Secret Dubai diary: Falling in Love Again

Secret Dubai diary: Violations of common sense

Secret Dubai diary: Mustang Sally

[cheap_deal]

nice links steeroid, especially the first one.
been to dubai only once and wondered what is up with the nissan sunny drivers doing just 60kmph on SZR with a landcruiser on his tail trying to force the sunny off the road.

[w 12]

Originally Posted by binz

An uncle did Dubai-Salala(999km)in 8 hours flat in the 500 sel;averaging at around 210

.

999 Kms at average speed of 210 Kms should take 4 hours 45 minutes to finish, not 8 hours.. something is not adding up here

[benbsb29]

Despite the tough driving tests in Dubai, despite the spy cameras at various strategic locations, despite spot radar checks....... the driving community in Dubai still manages reckless driving.

I remember a time when these stunt drivers were limited to the highways to the other emirates. Now, seems like its a common thing...!!

[vigsom]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

You will see a lot of irresponsible and downright dangerous driving .

Since you are in Dubai(DXB) , I am sure you'd have seen a lot of irresponsible drivers there also.I have been to UAE twice and have travelled on Emirates Road , both in 2003,2005.Nissan Maximaa was the car to beat in terms of speed.I am told this car is notorious even with the Insurance cos..true??

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Despite the tough driving tests in Dubai, despite the spy cameras at various strategic locations, despite spot radar checks....... the driving community in Dubai still manages reckless driving.

There is one very good reason for it - there is very little or almost NO live policing or patrolling. Deterrants are only in the form of fines.

Tough Driving Tests are tough to get through because of the way some of the inspectors pass or fail people - my driving 'test' lasted all of 15 seconds and I was given a 'pass'. My wife too passed her driving test in her first attempt but I wouldnt call her a good driver by any stretch of imagination. Therefore the fact that some people find the test tough to pass is not an indicator that those that actually pass are good drivers - this mirage of 'Tough Tests' is also created by hordes of subcontinental people who LEARN to drive in Dubai they obviously fail and therefore the failure rate is high not because the test is tough but because a majority of people taking the test dont actually know how to drive. If they had any experience in driving earlier, they wouldnt fail -especially if one has learnt to drive in India.

As for Spy Cameras and Radars....(1) people know exactly where they are, and the 'spot' radars are easy to spot. (2) the ones that go about flashing radars regularly can afford to pay any amount of fines.

What is lacking is policing or patrolling. The general belief here is that increasing the fines will reduce accidents - however, there are many that believe that if people actually get stopped and pulled over when they infringe traffic rules that would be a better deterrant.

Originally Posted by vigsom

Nissan Maximaa was the car to beat in terms of speed.I am told this car is notorious even with the Insurance cos..true??

Yes this is true. It is difficult to get insurance for these cars and if you do it is usually very expensive. Ditto with my car. Both these cars and the souped-up Nissan Patrols are also given a wide berth by everyone else on the highways. People actually move out of the way when they see these cars approaching on the rear view. Then again there are some morons who will never move out even if there is a train of traffic behind them. It is not uncommon to see a Nissan Sunny, Toyota Corolla, Echo, Tiida or Yaris doing 60kmph on teh fast lane, followed by a few dozen vehicles that are SO OBVIOUSLY trying their best to get through - if you see this sight on your rear view its like the small car in the centre of the fast lane followed by a whole bunch of more powerful vehicles to the left and right of it (each one moving to the left or right of his immediate predecessor in an attempt to get through. This frustration often leads to a pile-up accident, and also several instances or road rage, including some where people have been killed on account of road-rage incidents.

[benbsb29]

I remember the case where my uncle's Datsun was blasted off the road by some dude overspeeding on a Nissan Patrol. Injuries to the family was kinda serious.

[Steeroid]

The Dubai Police are circulating pictures of the worst accidents to happen on the streets, and I will take the liberty of posting these here on this thread occassionally.

These pictures go to show how unsafe the roads are these days with too many vehicles on the road. These are not meant to provoke a discussion on the driving habits of various races - it could happen anywhere under similar circumstances.

Today's pics:

[Steeroid]

HANDBOOK FOR DRIVING IN DUBAI

1. If your road map is more than a few days old, throw it out and get a new one.

2. If you are in Rashidiya and your map is one day old, then it is already obsolete.

3. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Dubai has it's own version of traffic rules, which can be summarized as "Hold on and pray!"

4. If it is your priority to cross, forget it and wait.

5. There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Dubai. Everyone drives like that.

6. When you plan to get a new car, ask first about its acceleration from 80 to 160 Km/h (recommended: 3 seconds). Very important if you frequently use the Emirates Road

7. All directions start with Sheikh Zayed Road, which has no beginning and no end.

8. The morning rush hour is from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM, The evening rush hour is from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

9. Thursday's rush hour starts Wednesday morning.

10. If you slow down at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended and then given a ticket by the Dubai Police.

11. If you are the first one at the intersection, when the light turns green ignore the car honking behind you and count to five to avoid crashing into one of the cars running the red light in cross-traffic.

12. Construction on all main roads is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment. (Sorry for the inconvenience)

13. All unfamiliar sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we must be in Sharjah!"

14. Car horns are actually toys for big boys.

15. Anyone in a Land Cruiser, Tuned Patrol, or Mercedes G Wagon with tinted windows has the right of way. Period!

16. If you are driving a Corolla, Sunny, or another small Japanese car, stay on the far right lane. No comment!

17. Most roads mysteriously change names as you cross intersections.

18. To ask directions, you must have good knowledge of Hindi/ Malayalam

19. A trip across town will take a minimum of four hours, although Sheikh Zayed Road has an unposted minimum speed of 150 Km/h.

20. It is sobering to realize that local Arabs are taught how to drive by Pakistanis.

21. 18 wheeler trucks are one of the fastest vehicles in Dubai; they can do 120 Km/h on Hatta-Oman Road when fully loaded.

22. The minimum acceptable speed on the Emirates Road is 160 km/h. Anything less is considered downright sissy.

23. Al Khail Road is Dubai's daily version of NASCAR.

24. Dubai Autodrome has a new extension: The Emirates Road.

25. WELCOME TO THE UAE!