Whether it’s the hours spent in traffic commuting each day, the arguments that ensue over fender benders, or the shock of seeing cars speed by at night without lights, everybody has something to say about the challenges of driving in Cairo. What about those who make their living driving passengers or goods across the city? Here are some of their opinions and the top five most dangerous habits when it comes to driving.
Keeping your eyes off the road
Safety driving instructor, Islam Mohamed, has been driving professionally as a truck driver and private chauffeur for eighteen years and has a first class driving license in four countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands. He explains that any activity that takes a driver’s eyes off the road even for a few seconds is the most dangerous thing a driver can do. While it seems obvious that drivers should look at the road while they are driving, he says everybody looks away for simple things such as changing the radio station, setting the air conditioner to the right temperature, talking to passengers while making eye contact, and lighting cigarettes.
Bad car maintenance
Islam also blames not keeping cars in good condition as a source of accidents caused by breakdowns. As a long-haul trucker on the route from Iraq to Tunisia during the 1990’s (the days before mobile phones), he said all the drivers had to know basic mechanics in case of breakdowns in the deserts or mountains of Saudi Arabia. Now people aren’t as well trained. He argues that the introduction of newer white taxis a few years ago have made a big difference in road safety. The new regulations for the white taxis, such as seat belts, higher motor quality standards, functioning lights and signals, and good breaks, make them safer. But individual car owners should take better care of their cars to make them safer on the road.
Not following the rules
Hany, a younger taxi driver, laments the city’s traffic and chaos the fact that nobody follows traffic rules. Just because the police are not there to enforce the rules, does not mean people should break them. Islam Mohamed recommends that drivers always leave enough space in front of their vehicles for the unexpected.
Letting your mood get out of control
The most important lesson Islam hopes his students – mostly truck drivers for cement companies – take away is that above all else, they must control their emotions before getting behind the wheel. On the highway, there is no room for error and drivers must not let their personal life distract them and they must be able to remain calm when faced with aggressive or erratic behavior.
Ignoring other concerns
Two older men who have been driving taxis throughout their working life don’t see any danger or problems with driving in Cairo. Mohsen, who drives an ancient white Lada taxi with no seatbelts thinks that only the pedestrians are the ones who need to worry. They need to be more careful when they cross the street, instead of just walking out in front of oncoming traffic. “They expect cars will stop for them, but drivers can’t always stop suddenly,” he says.
In recent months, Khaled, another taxi driver from Cairo believes that the most dangerous threat to drivers is not cars but thugs. Though he never personally experienced being held up, he says he hears stories from other drivers all the time, and is nervous when driving to outlying areas such as Helwan.
Saed Hussein Ibrahim from Qalyubia governorate has been driving taxis for forty-five years and disagrees that driving in Cairo is difficult at all. His proof is that, “Women can do it!”
