It's been a little while since my last post, so it's time for a bit of an update on things. Mainly driving. Actually all driving.
I currently reside in the UAE, and as part of my job I get the honour of being able to drive round the country visiting people in different cities. This wouldn't actually be too bad if it wasn't for the other users of the road. In a nutshell, people here simply cannot drive. Below are some of the things I see on a daily basis, not necessarily in any order, but as I think of them:
1. No use of, or extremely rare use of indicators. They may as well build cars here without them. They aren't used, and I have no idea why, when you turn the steering wheel your fingertips actually touch the indicator, so why not expend that little extra bit of energy and turn the indicator on, it then lets other people know what you are thinking of doing, instead of guessing, and yes it might even save your life.
2. Random use of seatbelts. Again, it takes an extra 3 seconds or less when you get in the car to put your seatbelt on, it could save your life. Put the seatbelt on.
3. Random use of seatbelts for children. I can't count the number of times I have seen children unbuckled and bouncing around the back of cars. For goodness sakes, put them in a car seat or seatbelt. (see point 2) The seatbelt could save your life.
4. Lights on full beam at night. Yes, we know you have a large GMC with blacked out windows, it does have dipped headlights though. Feel free to use them, so others can see at night without being blinded.
5. Occasional use of no headlights at night. This one simply beggars belief, why oh why wouldn't you use your headlights at night? They help you see, it's dark. Enough said.
6. Tailgating literally on the bumper. Yes, we know you have a large GMC with blacked out windows, but there is no need to sit right on my ass, and flash your headlights. I m well aware you are behind me, but I can't change lanes, as there is too much traffic.
7. Excessive speed. People here drive to fast. Slow down.
8. Overtaking on the hard shoulder. This is dangerous. Don't do it.
9. No use of mirrors, or blind spot checking. This is actually related to point number 1. Why have them if you don't use them? It takes all of 1 second to check who is next to you before you indicate, so why not check? Of course, it's far too easy to just pull out, and then excessively beep the other person while doing so, because they had no idea you were going to do it, as you didn't use any indicators either. I think that cars here could probably be designed without mirrors, and indicators.
I once overtook someone, and saw that there was no way they could have seen me, as they had a curtain, yes a curtain pulled across the drivers side window.
10. The right hand lane is used for turning right, yes, you wait in the line if you are going to the right. This doesn't mean that in a 3 lane road you drive down the middle lane and then just push in at the front of the queue in the right lane. You definitely shouldn't do this without indicating, as it causes the people behind you to almost slam into you, as they apply the breaks and beep you for your idiocy.
11. Driving too slowly. If you are in the 3rd or 4th lanes of the motorway, please don't drive at 60 kph. It causes people who are doing the correct speed limit (120kph) to take emergency measures to get round you, and to possibly hit you. It's much better that you stick to lane 1 or 2, that way you won't get killed, or kill someone trying to avoid you.
Yes, Mr person from the subcontinent, I m looking at you in your grey and tired looking Mitsubishi.
12. Honking at traffic lights. Here the lights go straight from red to green. The person in front of you needs a second or two before they can move of, there's no need to beep your horn instantly the lights turn green.
13. Use of a mobile phone. Or reading a newspaper, or book, eating some crisps, or a chocolate bar. Whilst driving a vehicle your eyes should be on the road, and not on your phone!
All of this actually amazes me because the UAE actually requires the majority of citizens to sit and pass a fairly difficult driving test. So, why are they so hopeless behind the wheel? It just doesn't make sense. It's as if people instantly forget what they have learned, as soon as they get behind the wheel.
LA to Asia
