the same annoying topic: DRIVERS in Doha
Well, I know.. the topic is annoying, has been discussed 1000 time or even 1001… but..
Some idiot hit my car heavily this morning, just in front of my house… btw, and it’s not running now :(:(…
BUT the main thing is that he even didn’t think it was his fault! When policemen arrived, they just took one look at the scene, and had no doubts whose fault was it, they even barely asked me what happened, cause it was so obvious… When they asked him the same question, he tried to explain why did he do it, by saying a nonsense, which clearly showed that he has no any clue about the traffic rules!
When you for instance jump on the red signal, at least you KNOW that you are doing wrong!!… But the cases when the driver doesn’t even understand that he IS clearly violating the rule, are really frightening me.
So My Question is: who gives the license to such drivers without diving them any idea about what the traffic rule is. And how come, those without any knowledge of the traffic rules or without at least any sign of the brain in their heads are on the qatari roads??
What I have learned here for 4 months is that qatari's own the road they don't care about traffic rules they will intimidate you, especially if they have muscle car like SUV so just watch your left and right. This what I do, do what the romans do, you follow the speed limit they will flash on you that get the hell out my way as simple as that. Just remember why they drive like crazy dumb idiot, they used to ride with a CAMEL so they still have the adrenaline of driving a motored vehicle so be patience and drive defensively they just learning, they are behind the curve still catching up on the technology.
qatarsun, what happened to you was very unjust and you have a right to feel how you do. However I would like to say that i enjoy driving here. its seems to be so liberating compared to back home. Yes I have people turning right across my path from the left hand lane etc etc but I am constantly watching the cars in front and inticipating just that. I enjoy the freedom when I can but again, to have some idiot drive into you without warning must be a bummer :(
The problem here in Qatar, is they give anyone a drivers license! Where I come from, you have to pass a legitamate test to be given the opportunity to get behind a wheel of a motor vehicle! Also, if you do something that is WRONG, you will PAY for it- one way or another- be it with a hefty fine or another persons foot up your ass!
what I see is the local residents driving wrecklessly. their cfhildren are free to roam about, never in a safety seat or seat belt! Completely STUPID! What the problem is....is their children are learning from their fathers, mothers or hired drivers how to act just as wreckless as young as 2 years! For those of you who are mad, I am saying I am sorry if this offends you, truth be told- YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT.
I pray every day that I make it to and from work safely without accident or any other major issues. If in 2011, I am on my way out of Qatar and I have not had any kind of motor vehicle accident- I will thank my lord above for watching over me because this very morning I had a driver in a Chevy truck cut me off and then continue to behave like a 15 year old child behind the wheel! trying to get me to do something stupid. It was so childish and dangerous at the same time.
In all honesty, we could go round and round about this very subject, but nothing will change. It is unfortunate that some things are the way they are here in this country, but I was born into this world, I didn't make it- I'm trying to survive in it though! I will never understand it, unfortunately. If any of you get it figured out, so tell PLEASE.
only as happy as you set your mind to be!
3 degrees C in California??
well.. enjoy it! here it's +17 and i already feel cold..
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Well QS, at least you are ok. Enjoy the new car!
Am heading out into Canada-type weather (in California!) to do some errands. It's 3 degrees C! Brrrr! I wish if it's going to be so cold, it would at least snow....maybe tonight.... :-)
QS, I know what you mean, it's suuuuuch a hassle, even though you aren't the one at fault.
Licenses are given to people who (barely) know how to operate a vehicle, but rules and courtesy and brains don't come into play at all.
I'm in the us right now, and it's like driving in heaven. I swear I could drive around town with my eyes closed and nothing would happen, because everyone just does what they're SUPPOSED TO DO!!!
NFH!! you are so right! "everyone just does what they're SUPPOSED TO DO!!!" I love it!
the first thing i do when go home for vacation is a loooooooong drive.. i enjoy it sooo much, like if i am in heaven as you said...
wallah, i had no one accident for the years of driving in canada.. here is like a hell.. and the main thing, you cannot predict what the next idiot will decide to do next moment all of a sudden!!
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
auscharlie, which insurance fraud?? what are you talking about??
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
let me get on to the police and insurance companies about this insurance fraud
hi Colt.. :):)
how r u doing?? :)
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
My car was hit not long ago too... wanna adopt me? :-P... good thing nothing happened to you... stay safe!
But I guess I'd still be a little bummed out by the thought I lost a car for nothing. Since some guy just randomly hit it.
Congrats Qatarisun for the new car. A new car within the day! Hope that the guy doesnt pass by your place again :)
but u must b out of it
if u dont like the new car
tell me
i will hit it for u
Thank God you weren't injured.
Glad you have a new car! One way to get a new car, I guess. A damaged car written off gets you insurance monies which would be more than trading in the car for a new one, right? I discovered this after I was in my 1 and only accident 2 years ago while driving a tin can in MY.
****************************************
Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
What I'm about to say is HEARSAY only, not to be relied upon and not actionable. The weight to be attached to the statement below shall (mandatory) be minimal. No part of it shall be taken out of context but read as a whole. ;) But if the shoe fits, we hope the perpetrators learn to go by the book instead of thinking only of their own convenience and pockets.I have no respect for cheaters and the corrupt.
Answer to Q : Because some of them "buy" their licences. I verily believe that it no longer happens but there were those who managed to do so, before enforcement was tightened.
/And in case anyone thinks they can tamper with my post, please note that I have a record of it in its entirety.
*****************************************
Don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
abohmaid, actually i WAS in the car.. :):) but ok, thanks God, i wasnot injured at all...
and guess what, my guy just called me and informed me that the new car is waiting for me in front of our home!...LOL.. isn't he great??
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
You are right and its sad, but what is the use of getting depressed about it ?
The same happened to me when back home.. The car loses some value, but as I said.. Thank God , you're OK..
if u need any thing just ask
that's what my hubby said.. but my car is not ok.. it means I got panished by loosing money without doing anything wrong. Now 1. we have to rent the car till myine one will be fixed (or cancelled/exchanged), and if my car is fixable, it definitely lost a lot of its re-selling value!
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
kyuting13, actually pedestrian was an example.. the idea is that the driver had to stop and to wait.. instead, he jumped into MY LANE, hit my car, and BLAMED ON ME, trying to pretend it was my fault!! But the scariest moment is that he TRUELY believed it was my fault!! he didn't know that he CANNOT go to the opposite lane under ANY circumstances!
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Happens all over the world.. Thank your stars that you are OK and get over it..
That's true, there's no such thing as pedestrians right of way in Qatar.
Oh and I also hate it when you are in a major road, then a guy who was in the outer most lane decides a few meter before the signal that he needs to turn left. Wouldnt even put a signal sometimes and just drive through 4 other lanes. One of the most dangerous maneuvers i've seen.
i'll try to do so.. no.. really.. ok, i understand when you know that you have broken the rule, or at least it's not too clear whose fault is that..
but ...for instance..
You need to turn right. There is a pedestrian that crosses the road (in the allowed place!). He already passed half of the road, and now he is in front of you, completing his crossing. What you have to do? You have to stop, let the pedestrian cross the road, and complete your turn. Right? Simple. NO!!!! we don’t know HOW TO STOP AND TO WAIT!! You know what do we do?? We try to round this pedestrian from his back, and obviously we jump to the opposite lane! And accidently there are the cars on the opposite lanes (like we didn’t know that cars also driving the opposite lanes, not only the owr ones!).. and surely we hit one of the cars on the opposite lane.. but guess what?? WE BLAME ON THE pedestrian!!! HE was on our way, and we NEEDED to make a turn! So we didn't have any choice rather than rounding him!!
.. Honestly! The guy has no idea that actually he had to STOP and to WAIT! Swear to God, he never considered this option! HE NEEDED TO MOVE! That’s all what he knew..
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Qatarisun... hope your car gets fixed soon. Now I'm scared for our car, because we only park in the street in front of our place, hope we dont encounter the same.
Drivers here can be crazy. Just the other day in one round about we were passing, we were the 3rd car... the toyota (car) was first in turning and he was bumped by the land cruiser behind him... also for no apparent reason. the driver of the car was in normal speed limits
and i'm not quite sure why the driver of the land cruiser seemed to just accelerate. It seemed more intentional than of an accident.