Driving in Doha

DohaSteve
By DohaSteve

The following is intended to be used as a guide only, and does not constitute nor claim to be a legal document in any shape or form:

 

DOHA HIGHWAY CODE This is designed to assist new drivers in Doha to understand the finer points of local driving skills. 

 

  • Normally you drive on the right hand side of the road but it is quite acceptable to drive on the left, the middle or even the pavement if lamp-posts do not pose a direct hazard.

 

  • Cars entering a roundabout have right of way; cars on the roundabout have right of way and cars leaving the roundabout have right of way.

 

  • Never use your indicators as this will only confuse other drivers. Instead, turn on your hazard warning lights whenever you think you may be about to stop at a traffic signal, and keep them on for the remainder of your journey.

 

  • Use your horn as much as possible and at least every five minutes (no reason required)

 

  • Road signs, such as "no entry", "give way", etc should be ignored. They are there to brighten what would otherwise be a very dull junction or corner.

 

  • Take extra care if you stop at traffic lights or pedestrian crossings; this will be so unexpected that someone may run into the back of you.

 

  • If you spot a friend when driving just stop abruptly, wind down the window and talk to him/her. Ensure you have stopped in such a manner as to present the greatest obstacle and make it impossible for other cars to pass safely.

 

  • Always assume the correct driving position - ensure that you have your mobile phone in your right hand and the other idly hanging outside the drivers window.

 

   If you are a pedestrian: ·                    

Never look right or left when crossing the road, walk as slowly as possible and assume all cars will stop for you. 

 

At night, walk in the middle of the road wearing black or dark clothes and above all, never do anything which might alert cars to your presence..

 

By blueRoSe• 7 Apr 2008 20:39
blueRoSe

lol!  funny bu true...this is exactly what I observed too!

 

 

 

[img_assist|nid=93009|title=wish|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]" "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

By deedee• 7 Apr 2008 12:40
deedee

from the Qatar driving schools instruction book?   LOL.   I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that a number of people truly thought some of these "joke rules"  were in fact the true laws here.

By tinkerbelle• 7 Apr 2008 04:27
Rating: 2/5
tinkerbelle

spits at your path???  I am confused.....

By Aunt Polly• 7 Apr 2008 04:18
Rating: 5/5
Aunt Polly

 

Agree with you on all these points especially on the one about stopping at traffic signals and risking getting hit on the bumper because the fact that you were stopping took the driver at the back by surprise.(This happened to me)

i think they should ban all those pick up and URVANs which cart nurses back and forth from work places -those that have green number plates, as they are a nuisance and risk to other drivers.

 

 

 

 

 

Aunt Polly

By littleme• 7 Apr 2008 01:20
Rating: 3/5
littleme

Very refreshing in compare with booooring British (nothing personal! :) driving style, hehehe!

By nadt• 6 Apr 2008 22:39
Rating: 4/5
nadt

good observations..If you cant practice these then dont bother driving...

By thexonic• 6 Apr 2008 20:15
Rating: 5/5
thexonic

lol good one :D

--------------------

"Be Like a Flower, Which gives off it's fragrance

even to the hand that crushes it.

By anonymous• 6 Apr 2008 19:37
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

that most old wrecked cars, those 2-ton (Toyota Dyna) pick-up trucks, those small vans & 20-seater mini buses...thay all use max headlights that blinds you totally.

Somebody should educate those drivers about the usage of headlights, before giving them a driving license

By anonymous• 6 Apr 2008 18:23
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

Am a new driver in Qatar. Being a female, i find it so much better driving, than walking on the roads (no one spits at your path!! ) 

_______________________________________________________________

One of the hardest things for us to do in our human nature is to just stop what we are doing to allow God to produce in us what only He can produce.

By Snowstorm• 6 Apr 2008 15:58
Rating: 5/5
Snowstorm

 

YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!

[img_assist|nid=92055|title=BE HAPPY|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

By t_coffee_or_me• 6 Apr 2008 15:56
Rating: 4/5
t_coffee_or_me

driving in qatar is a breeze just drive like a breez n u will be fine

 

 

[img_assist|nid=50852|title=hmm|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]

By Qatar Idols• 6 Apr 2008 15:54
Rating: 5/5
Qatar Idols

CANCELLATION OF DRIVING LICENSE IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THOSE WHO NOT ABIDE THE ROAD RULES. THEY WILL BE OUT FROM OUR WAY... & OF COURSE, IT WILL SHORTEN THE DANGER, LESS CAR, LESS ACCIDENT.

 

It is better to endure the hardship of education than to taste the bitterness of ignorance.

By Jarreau• 6 Apr 2008 15:50
Rating: 5/5
Jarreau

Hahahahaha very good :):):) 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Life is nothing without friends.... :)

By anonymous• 6 Apr 2008 14:57
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

They think installing more cameras everywhere will solve the driving problems here.

By dragonfly212• 6 Apr 2008 14:35
Rating: 5/5
dragonfly212

it is true fact that Doha driving is one of the worst places.. 

Everybody is right Everybody is wrong, it depend where we stand.

By anonymous• 6 Apr 2008 14:33
Rating: 4/5
anonymous

Not funny at all , this is exactly the prevailing rules in Qatar,,,, the last one the driving posture, it is 100% just look outside , the ongoing traffic. 

By Paul R• 6 Apr 2008 14:28
Rating: 3/5
Paul R

Very funny, and frightening, and true !

By dragonfly212• 6 Apr 2008 14:24
Rating: 5/5
dragonfly212

hehehehe funny observation.

Everybody is right Everybody is wrong, it depend where we stand.

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