Americans in Saudi Arabia invariably complain -- rightly so -- about the incredibly casual and selfish driving style, and the apparent breeziness with which local drivers run stop signs, red lights, and other driving behaviors we have been conditioned to abhor.
Recently the government started publicizing its "Sahel" crackdown on speeders, by launching several radar cars and remote cameras at intersections -- this slows drivers to the 75mph limit in the immediate vicinity of the radar car. But that is the only obvious enforcement of any traffic laws.
Yesterday when driving home on the expressway -- 3 lanes in each direction -- traffic slowed for an accident up ahead. Cars immediately filled the three lanes and each lane on either side. As an ambulance plaintively wailed its siren behind us, slowly inching through the cars blocking its way in the "breakdown lane", Barb bemoaned the stupidity of the local drivers and the apparent inability of traffic police to catch them, and we wondered whether the police even care about it. Police presence is surprisingly minimal on the roads here, seeming mostly to function as escorts for VIPs. However, today was an exception: as we approached the accident scene, we saw that a police car blocked the median breakdown lane, and a policeman stopped each of the cars approaching in that lane, quickly taking each driver's license...about five drivers were stopped as we watched!
This was quite shocking, but actually reassuring to those of us appalled at the incessant breezily dangerous driving behaviors here. Stop signs are mere suggestions, and red lights are often simply bypassed, solid yellow lines are irrelevant, and breakdown lanes are treated as supplemental driving lanes, turn signals appear to be used only by cautious Westerners.
Maybe there is a change in enforcement attitude? We noticed more police cars apparently checking vehicles on the side of the road yesterday. In a society that prides itself on moral rectitude, justice, and punishment, it is unfortunate that such straightforward laws as traffic rules are so breezily ignored...not to mention the loss of life and property and time, from the many accidents caused by such behavior.
Watch this space for more news -- and drive safely.
Recently the government started publicizing its "Sahel" crackdown on speeders, by launching several radar cars and remote cameras at intersections -- this slows drivers to the 75mph limit in the immediate vicinity of the radar car. But that is the only obvious enforcement of any traffic laws.
Yesterday when driving home on the expressway -- 3 lanes in each direction -- traffic slowed for an accident up ahead. Cars immediately filled the three lanes and each lane on either side. As an ambulance plaintively wailed its siren behind us, slowly inching through the cars blocking its way in the "breakdown lane", Barb bemoaned the stupidity of the local drivers and the apparent inability of traffic police to catch them, and we wondered whether the police even care about it. Police presence is surprisingly minimal on the roads here, seeming mostly to function as escorts for VIPs. However, today was an exception: as we approached the accident scene, we saw that a police car blocked the median breakdown lane, and a policeman stopped each of the cars approaching in that lane, quickly taking each driver's license...about five drivers were stopped as we watched!
This was quite shocking, but actually reassuring to those of us appalled at the incessant breezily dangerous driving behaviors here. Stop signs are mere suggestions, and red lights are often simply bypassed, solid yellow lines are irrelevant, and breakdown lanes are treated as supplemental driving lanes, turn signals appear to be used only by cautious Westerners.
Maybe there is a change in enforcement attitude? We noticed more police cars apparently checking vehicles on the side of the road yesterday. In a society that prides itself on moral rectitude, justice, and punishment, it is unfortunate that such straightforward laws as traffic rules are so breezily ignored...not to mention the loss of life and property and time, from the many accidents caused by such behavior.
Watch this space for more news -- and drive safely.
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