Terrible Road Accident Rate in the UAE.
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Though LR3's wording may not be sufficiently PC for some his sentiments and emotions are completly understandable.
Having had a local guy leave 35m skid mark on Al Wasl before remodelling the back of our minivan(that we were stopped in at a RED traffic light
)
After I was given the pink slip
he had the gall to say how glad he was that we were all ok! How thoughtful and kind.
Had a local FO show me,very proudly, a video of him doing 300kph in his 'Vet..............I know it was 300kph as he was filming the speedo as he was driving the flipping car, Jeez.
He was somewhat surprised by my reaction after I watched it when I told him that he was an F' ing Tw#t and to get something alot slower before he killed someone.
But to be fair to the young lads and lasses who have these super quick motors, if I could have afforded and insured one when I was 19 I would have got one too, thank God I had no money then
.
Having had a local guy leave 35m skid mark on Al Wasl before remodelling the back of our minivan(that we were stopped in at a RED traffic light
)After I was given the pink slip
he had the gall to say how glad he was that we were all ok! How thoughtful and kind.Had a local FO show me,very proudly, a video of him doing 300kph in his 'Vet..............I know it was 300kph as he was filming the speedo as he was driving the flipping car, Jeez.
He was somewhat surprised by my reaction after I watched it when I told him that he was an F' ing Tw#t and to get something alot slower before he killed someone.
But to be fair to the young lads and lasses who have these super quick motors, if I could have afforded and insured one when I was 19 I would have got one too, thank God I had no money then
.
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LR3 I agree with your right to be pissed off. I'm just trying to prevent confusion since locals can also be very dangerous in Dubai when they are over 60 and drive below 60... Just keep the things at a smart level without making any generalization and avoiding inappropriate offending wording.
The dangerous young local driver's issue is a fact, I was just trying to keep the things reasonable before we blame them for driving cars.
The dangerous young local driver's issue is a fact, I was just trying to keep the things reasonable before we blame them for driving cars.
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What's with the pink slip crap that everyone's getting. If someone rear ends you, it's their fault, regardless of nationality. It's happened twice with my wife and both occassions the other drivers got the pinkee! ( one a local & the other a Lebanese)
A similar thing happened last year to a friend when he was shafted (literally), but he refused the pink slip and insisted it be dealt down at the station. It was and the slips were changed after a little shouting by the senior station officer. Most police that pitch up are too afraid to cause a stink so side with the local or, in some cases, Arabic speaker.
Unless you're in a hurry, stand your ground. The message might eventually get through!
To be honest, my few dealings with the police have not been a problem. They were courteous and efficient. Maybe I was lucky.
A similar thing happened last year to a friend when he was shafted (literally), but he refused the pink slip and insisted it be dealt down at the station. It was and the slips were changed after a little shouting by the senior station officer. Most police that pitch up are too afraid to cause a stink so side with the local or, in some cases, Arabic speaker.
Unless you're in a hurry, stand your ground. The message might eventually get through!
To be honest, my few dealings with the police have not been a problem. They were courteous and efficient. Maybe I was lucky.
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Young locals driving like madmen is nothing new to Dubai. Long term Ppruners might recall 'The Caravan', which used to be on the Humour Page (when PPrune had one). 'The Caravan' was written a LONG time ago. Here's an excerpt about "phor-wheal-dryves":
The only time you'll find a car driving slowly on Sheikh Zed Rd is when the driver is too deep into his (or all too often her) phone conversation to maintain warp 5 speed, and it would appear to be obligatory to wander from lane to lane as you gesticulate with your free hand - (i.e., the one not holding the phone - the one that should be holding the ****ing steering wheel!). To prove that that is no a new problem either, the ancient scroll that was 'The Caravan' mentioned that as well.
Phorwealdryves were the swift and sprightly steeds on which the young warriors of Knoteetinghamm jousted daily, often to the death, upon the dunes around their scattered tents. It was usually a timid, almost passive creature. However, the moment a young Knoteetinghammi warrior cast his thighs across its saddle, it became like unto a raging bull, unable to bear the sight of any other phorewealdryve unless that animal be far behind it. To see other phorwealdryves in line upon the desert sands would send it into a slavering, eyeball-rolling frenzy and plunge headlong past them, its two bright eyes flashing, until it found itself at the head of the queue… or smitten against the flank of another phorwealdryve, itself almost certainly racing to the head of yet another oncoming queue.
Where the phorwealdryves were hastening to, no one knew, for they seemed to go nowhere but in endless circles seeking out more queues of phorwealdryves to jump. In the market square, Gull Fnewz, the Cherif’s trusted herald, expounded almost daily upon varying theories passed to him by visitors from many lands who witnessed this strange and fearsome trait. Although still unproven to this day, it is believed by many learned scholars that the phorwealdryves and their young riders were in search of their final resting place, the fabled Doubleparkoutsidetheshwamashoppe.)
Where the phorwealdryves were hastening to, no one knew, for they seemed to go nowhere but in endless circles seeking out more queues of phorwealdryves to jump. In the market square, Gull Fnewz, the Cherif’s trusted herald, expounded almost daily upon varying theories passed to him by visitors from many lands who witnessed this strange and fearsome trait. Although still unproven to this day, it is believed by many learned scholars that the phorwealdryves and their young riders were in search of their final resting place, the fabled Doubleparkoutsidetheshwamashoppe.)
The only time you'll find a car driving slowly on Sheikh Zed Rd is when the driver is too deep into his (or all too often her) phone conversation to maintain warp 5 speed, and it would appear to be obligatory to wander from lane to lane as you gesticulate with your free hand - (i.e., the one not holding the phone - the one that should be holding the ****ing steering wheel!). To prove that that is no a new problem either, the ancient scroll that was 'The Caravan' mentioned that as well.
To date, little is known of the gods and idols worshipped by the people of ancient Knoteetinghamm – with one notable exception: undoubtedly, there was widespread adoration of the humble conch shell. It is obvious from the scrolls translated to date that the small black palm-sized conch shell was venerated with deep religious fervour by the young and not so young warriors of Knoteetinghamm – and their women folk as well. Mention of it has been found frequently in a number of the other scrolls only partially translated to date. Other names for the conch shell god sometimes appear, like No-kia and Mo-torola, but the favourite by far seems to have been the tongue twisting Majornogoitem. The origins of this last name remain obscure, but it would seem that no warrior dared approach his phorwealdryve without his conch shell god clasped firmly to his right ear.
Other scholars studying these ancient scrolls have opined that the conch shell was not in fact a god, but used only to cover the right ear from a stranger’s gaze. They believe that in the Knoteetinghamm of yore, the display of the male’s right ear in public was the greatest of all social taboos. Some, seeing even less significance in this custom, believe that the warriors of Knoteetinghamm simply liked the rushing sound of the waves filling their ears as they rode their phorewealdryves upon the arid dunes. Whatever the reasons, religious taboo or not, one thing is certain: for any warrior of any age to ride upon the back of his phorwealdryve in public without his conch shell clasped tightly to his right ear was plainly unthinkable and against all custom and good taste.)
Other scholars studying these ancient scrolls have opined that the conch shell was not in fact a god, but used only to cover the right ear from a stranger’s gaze. They believe that in the Knoteetinghamm of yore, the display of the male’s right ear in public was the greatest of all social taboos. Some, seeing even less significance in this custom, believe that the warriors of Knoteetinghamm simply liked the rushing sound of the waves filling their ears as they rode their phorewealdryves upon the arid dunes. Whatever the reasons, religious taboo or not, one thing is certain: for any warrior of any age to ride upon the back of his phorwealdryve in public without his conch shell clasped tightly to his right ear was plainly unthinkable and against all custom and good taste.)
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The Caravan........what a classic! Particularly it's description of FOs:
Yasser Wateverusay smiled his most ingratiating smile. "Sire, the effoh beith the poorest excuse for a man - the lowliest of lowly castes that willst worketh for the scraps and leavings fromst Thy table. However, they beith a necessary evil on every caravan."
"Effohs. We have heardeth not this strange name before. Whence commeth it frometh?"
"Sire, the effoh beith the caravan's effluent orderly."
"Effluent orderly? Dost thou meanest he collecteth the **** from the autocamel?"
"Yea, Sire, but not just from the autocamel. The effoh's lot in life beith to taketh **** from all quarters as he walketh close behind the autocamel in the dust."
Yasser Wateverusay smiled his most ingratiating smile. "Sire, the effoh beith the poorest excuse for a man - the lowliest of lowly castes that willst worketh for the scraps and leavings fromst Thy table. However, they beith a necessary evil on every caravan."
"Effohs. We have heardeth not this strange name before. Whence commeth it frometh?"
"Sire, the effoh beith the caravan's effluent orderly."
"Effluent orderly? Dost thou meanest he collecteth the **** from the autocamel?"
"Yea, Sire, but not just from the autocamel. The effoh's lot in life beith to taketh **** from all quarters as he walketh close behind the autocamel in the dust."
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Wiley 
Thank you for reminding us of the Caravan once more!
Can we have the rest of it sire?
A welcome break from the subject that rules our lives and indeed has changed that of many. I personally sport a titanium femur courtesy of one of these village idiots loosing control of his car at high speed, wiping out a cyclist and finally ploughing into my car travelling in the opposite direction. No, it has never been to court, even though the unfortunate cyclist is no longer with us...I guess it is the 'class system' another poster alluded to or perhaps simply tribalism, to put it nicely. Incidentally that occured in Bahrain so the UAE is certainly not alone here, everything you all describe here happens over there, it exactly the same by all accounts.
Cheers
Thank you for reminding us of the Caravan once more!
Can we have the rest of it sire?
A welcome break from the subject that rules our lives and indeed has changed that of many. I personally sport a titanium femur courtesy of one of these village idiots loosing control of his car at high speed, wiping out a cyclist and finally ploughing into my car travelling in the opposite direction. No, it has never been to court, even though the unfortunate cyclist is no longer with us...I guess it is the 'class system' another poster alluded to or perhaps simply tribalism, to put it nicely. Incidentally that occured in Bahrain so the UAE is certainly not alone here, everything you all describe here happens over there, it exactly the same by all accounts.
Cheers
Last edited by Che Guevara; 16th Jul 2008 at 13:36.
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I understand the original is still in the PPrune archives. Perhaps someone a bit more computer literate than I am could find it and post the URL here.
Or better yet, Danny might be convinced to surrender a bit of bandwidth and re-instate the Humour Page.
Re-reading 'The Caravan' today, I'm amazed at its timelessness. Delete Ozmates and insert Seppos and it could have been written two weeks ago (although with McDonald Douglas now gone, 'Parmbeich sur Mer' [Palm Beach by the Sea] might require translation for the young'uns.) Ceeaddlewash and Wun-twoloose are still with us, as are the Parkhir bin Phen tribe.
And of course, Marcel Hard Sell and we cameleers:
Or better yet, Danny might be convinced to surrender a bit of bandwidth and re-instate the Humour Page.
Re-reading 'The Caravan' today, I'm amazed at its timelessness. Delete Ozmates and insert Seppos and it could have been written two weeks ago (although with McDonald Douglas now gone, 'Parmbeich sur Mer' [Palm Beach by the Sea] might require translation for the young'uns.) Ceeaddlewash and Wun-twoloose are still with us, as are the Parkhir bin Phen tribe.
And of course, Marcel Hard Sell and we cameleers:
“Marcelhardcel of Wun-twoloose saith that first the rider must learneth the many devious ways of the beast.”
“But how dost he learneth these ways?”
“There beith men who canst teacheth our young warriors these mysteries. They art knownst as cameleers.”
“Dost thou speaketh of the rabble who leadest the beasts of the foreigners’ caravans?”
“Verily, Sire.”
“But… but to a man, they seemith a rowdy, ill-bred caste who causeth no end of trouble. Whilst their camels resteth, dost they not frequenth only the lowliest sherbet stands and pursueth maidens of the illest repute?”
“That beist so, Sire. It beith widely said that in any city along the far-flung caravan routes, should a stranger follow a cameleer, he willst surely findeth the cheapest sherbet and comely maidens of the lowliest kind.”
“And thou sayest these devilish foreign cameleers be needeth here, to live amongst our people in Knoteetinghamm?”
“Yea, Sire, but only until they have shown our own young warriors the ways of the camel.”
“But how dost he learneth these ways?”
“There beith men who canst teacheth our young warriors these mysteries. They art knownst as cameleers.”
“Dost thou speaketh of the rabble who leadest the beasts of the foreigners’ caravans?”
“Verily, Sire.”
“But… but to a man, they seemith a rowdy, ill-bred caste who causeth no end of trouble. Whilst their camels resteth, dost they not frequenth only the lowliest sherbet stands and pursueth maidens of the illest repute?”
“That beist so, Sire. It beith widely said that in any city along the far-flung caravan routes, should a stranger follow a cameleer, he willst surely findeth the cheapest sherbet and comely maidens of the lowliest kind.”
“And thou sayest these devilish foreign cameleers be needeth here, to live amongst our people in Knoteetinghamm?”
“Yea, Sire, but only until they have shown our own young warriors the ways of the camel.”
I have made a sticky of the 1st scroll Wiley. Perhaps we could try and find out there in the sands, a new scroll, with updated details. It needs to be discovered.
Also found this which may amuse
HANDBOOK FOR DRIVING IN DUBAI
1. If your road map is more than a few weeks 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 its 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 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 RACING.
24. Dubai Autodrome has a new extension: The Emirates Road.
25. WELCOME TO THE UAE!
Also found this which may amuse
HANDBOOK FOR DRIVING IN DUBAI1. If your road map is more than a few weeks 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 its 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 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 RACING.
24. Dubai Autodrome has a new extension: The Emirates Road.
25. WELCOME TO THE UAE!
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only 300!
He must have been off the gas a tad- I've had mine to 330 and increasing - but got scared after about 15 secs at that speed - but it was out on the open road with no one else around...couldnt do that anywhere else in the world with out going to jail. Been here almost nine years and agree that the roads are deadly - but cant see anyway to fix it really as too much revenue comes from speeding fines to want to take folks off the road permanently for being stoopid. Woodj
