Discussion
Moving to UAE in August.
As PHers, you guys are going to be car and driver savvy.
Lay it on me. How do I survive the mean streets of Abu Dhabi ?
Defensive ? Preventative ? Pro-active ?
Look forward to your top tips and incidents of the craziest things you've witnessed whilst driving around.
The maddest driving I've seen in the World so far was in Cairo however we had a driver so I was never behind the wheel myself. There, the whole flow ( if you can call it that ) of traffic is orchestrated by a series of horn beeps/blasts.
As PHers, you guys are going to be car and driver savvy.
Lay it on me. How do I survive the mean streets of Abu Dhabi ?
Defensive ? Preventative ? Pro-active ?
Look forward to your top tips and incidents of the craziest things you've witnessed whilst driving around.
The maddest driving I've seen in the World so far was in Cairo however we had a driver so I was never behind the wheel myself. There, the whole flow ( if you can call it that ) of traffic is orchestrated by a series of horn beeps/blasts.
you know when you're in a hurry in the uk and need to cross a city? the same as that really. tight, decisive/aggresive, but very aware of what is around you.
worst bit of the road system is the junctions. some french retard decided it'd be a really good idea for the traffic joining the 6 lane highway to do so before the exit ramp for the same junction. people here absolutely must must over to the middle lane as soon as humanly possible even if the road ahead is 100% clear, so most crashes you'll see are around junctions.
if you've driven around africa/asia then you'll find it a breeze.
worst bit of the road system is the junctions. some french retard decided it'd be a really good idea for the traffic joining the 6 lane highway to do so before the exit ramp for the same junction. people here absolutely must must over to the middle lane as soon as humanly possible even if the road ahead is 100% clear, so most crashes you'll see are around junctions.
if you've driven around africa/asia then you'll find it a breeze.
In a potentially dicey situation you will find yourself covering the horn more than the brake pedal after time...
I find it's just like Nascar, you just aim for where the crash is happening and hope by the time you get there you miss it...
In all seriousness, you need to be confident/decisive - if you pussy foot around, someone else will just cut you up and you will never make progress.
If it rains/drizzles, stay away from the roads.
Stay away from the roads around sunset during ramadan.
Friday morning is the best time to drive anywhere, especially if a newbie.
I find it's just like Nascar, you just aim for where the crash is happening and hope by the time you get there you miss it...
In all seriousness, you need to be confident/decisive - if you pussy foot around, someone else will just cut you up and you will never make progress.
If it rains/drizzles, stay away from the roads.
Stay away from the roads around sunset during ramadan.
Friday morning is the best time to drive anywhere, especially if a newbie.
I always recommend buying a Garmin.
They may not be perfect but they will normally get you there 90% of the time (even if not quickest way) and they will ALWAYS get you home.
Takes away one of the big worries of driving here and they are not that expensive.
(p.s. I live in Dubai so perhaps one of the AD members can comment on how accurate the maps are for AD.
They may not be perfect but they will normally get you there 90% of the time (even if not quickest way) and they will ALWAYS get you home.
Takes away one of the big worries of driving here and they are not that expensive.
(p.s. I live in Dubai so perhaps one of the AD members can comment on how accurate the maps are for AD.
Doom Bar said:
Moving to UAE in August.
As PHers, you guys are going to be car and driver savvy.
Lay it on me. How do I survive the mean streets of Abu Dhabi ?
Defensive ? Preventative ? Pro-active ?
Look forward to your top tips and incidents of the craziest things you've witnessed whilst driving around.
The maddest driving I've seen in the World so far was in Cairo however we had a driver so I was never behind the wheel myself. There, the whole flow ( if you can call it that ) of traffic is orchestrated by a series of horn beeps/blasts.
In terms of navigating around, I find Dubai much worse than Abu Dhabi, particularly when you're not familiar with it. Ab Dabs is based on roundabouts at the top of motorway junctions and a grid system in town. So if you miss your turning, you can just go round the block and back where you started. Dubai is all cloverleaf sAs PHers, you guys are going to be car and driver savvy.
Lay it on me. How do I survive the mean streets of Abu Dhabi ?
Defensive ? Preventative ? Pro-active ?
Look forward to your top tips and incidents of the craziest things you've witnessed whilst driving around.
The maddest driving I've seen in the World so far was in Cairo however we had a driver so I was never behind the wheel myself. There, the whole flow ( if you can call it that ) of traffic is orchestrated by a series of horn beeps/blasts.
te, so if you take the wrong turn you'll be taken off for ages before you can even turn around, by which time you'll have forgotten where you were headed before. Constant roadworks mean Garmin doesn't help.I may have got used to it, but it seems a lot less frantic than it was when I first came out. In those initial months, there seemed to be something on it's roof on the way to work a couple of times a week. Don't see too many accidents like that now. Or at least that's my perception! I'm sure someone else will disagree...
Dont sit in blind spots as people change lane with no indication, be very aware of idiots around you (assume everyone is an idiot).
Trail the brakes upto junctions to give the idiot behind you a chance to register the traffic slowing infront and prevent them smashing into the back of you.
Ignore anyone giving it "flashy flashy"...but if someone does get up your chuff, find an appropriate place to get out of the way and indicate your intention because I guarentee if you dont they will try to undertake you.
Buy a supercar, people yield to supercars and they almost never tailgate or "flashy flashy" you...similarly ignorant numptys who dont check their mirrors can hear you coming and get out of the way.
OOH I forgot, never EVER make hand signals to people, unless you are saying thankyou for someone letting you in or waving to let someone out.
Trail the brakes upto junctions to give the idiot behind you a chance to register the traffic slowing infront and prevent them smashing into the back of you.
Ignore anyone giving it "flashy flashy"...but if someone does get up your chuff, find an appropriate place to get out of the way and indicate your intention because I guarentee if you dont they will try to undertake you.
Buy a supercar, people yield to supercars and they almost never tailgate or "flashy flashy" you...similarly ignorant numptys who dont check their mirrors can hear you coming and get out of the way.
OOH I forgot, never EVER make hand signals to people, unless you are saying thankyou for someone letting you in or waving to let someone out.
Edited by TobyLaRohne on Tuesday 21st May 14:25
All depends on how people 'perceive' you. I drive to Abu Dhabi quite regularly in the Jeep which is dirty as hell, tinted and get no bother. Yet if I jump into the company Yaris (with our dubiously-skilled 'driver') he get flashed and tooted all the time even if he's running with the speed of traffic.
The worst offenders for the ol' flashy flashy I find aren't so much the locals - they generally will blast past without much bother, but it's certain people driving Honda Accords or Toyota Corollas.
Had a prize plum on the way up the morning in a black Corolla who decided he wanted to race the ol' Yaris all the way upto Abu Dhabi and took offence if we ended up passing him as he jumped between lanes.
Just expect everyone to be an idiot and don't sit in blind spots and you'll be fine.
Once you know that when taking lessons in the UAE the instructors explicitly stop learners from doing an 'over the shoulder' blind spot check when changing lanes - they think it's dangerous to stop looking forward... - the 'skills' demonstrated on the road start to make a bit more sense.
The worst offenders for the ol' flashy flashy I find aren't so much the locals - they generally will blast past without much bother, but it's certain people driving Honda Accords or Toyota Corollas.
Had a prize plum on the way up the morning in a black Corolla who decided he wanted to race the ol' Yaris all the way upto Abu Dhabi and took offence if we ended up passing him as he jumped between lanes.
Just expect everyone to be an idiot and don't sit in blind spots and you'll be fine.
Once you know that when taking lessons in the UAE the instructors explicitly stop learners from doing an 'over the shoulder' blind spot check when changing lanes - they think it's dangerous to stop looking forward... - the 'skills' demonstrated on the road start to make a bit more sense.
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