SHARED THOUGHTS – 10.10.2015
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This
happens only in Kuwait.
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It’s said,
“show me your friends and I will tell who you are”. In bygone days, it was
“show me the books you read and I will tell who you are”.. bygone, because,
books are in extinction and reading books are unheard of these days. Now,
relevant to the subject, one can say, “looking at the way you drive, I will
tell who you are”.
If one has
been in Middle East city roads, one would not be surprised at some of the
unique ways of road behaviour. However when it comes to Kuwait, a whole new
world of notoriety opens up reflecting the typical behavioural patterns of the
rich and young of this beautiful city state. Some are fit to be in Ripley’s
Believe it or Not…and believe me, I am not joking. Folks out here will agree
with me with a big five, in disgust though.
For a small
city with broad well lit smooth roads and speed limits ranging from 80 to 120
kmph in most of the main roads, an infrastructure designed for 800,000 cars, it
is a daily melee and a battle for the nearly 2,000,000 vehicles to find that
elbow space to move forward during peak hours. In the process a resident here
must have noticed all or most of the following waywardness ; some of them being
unique to Kuwait, while others are applicable all over the region.
-
The whole wide road is an open ashtray for the oblivious
smokers who can simply chuck those puffed out stubs out of the window, in one
quick flick. The family is not far behind, for the little one will have no
hesitation to throw out the sucked up empty cola cans or empty snack pouches.
-
Speed breakers are unmarked and seemingly so well aligned
to the road, that one will realise its presence only when a violent jolt
coupled with a wild protest from the springs stir up your system.
-
Line of cars patiently waiting to merge with traffic on a
main road, one by one accessing, then you see the big bullies bulldozing their
way right to the front and stuffing its bulk ahead of the first car to enter
the main road.
-
Similar experience is when you are waiting in line to
take the U turn..The big bully comes speeding up and goes right up in the front
to take the impossible U turn, possible only because of the first car scurrying
for safety..
-
Definitely a sight only in Kuwait. Friends are friends
and any time any place is good enough for a bit of chat or catching up. A
common sight where 2 or 3 friends in their fancy cars, parallel to each other
occupying the 3 lanes, exchanging pleasantries at easy leisure and in no hurry,
while 3 lane full of helpless watchers follow their behind. Swear all you want.
-
Young men on their sporty bikes suddenly manifest during
weekends. One biker for each car where a girl is driving, riding parallel to
the driver’s door, ogling at the driver, with endless stare for a good distance
until they sight another hapless pretty driver. This is disgusting indeed.
-
These young men try to impress these damsels with their
acrobatics and trick rides, that very often one of them fall over with fatal or
critical head injuries. This is so very common. A ward in a local
hospital is filled with young men in vegetative state.
-
4 x 4 big SUVs are a privileged lot. Signal or median are
no hindrance. If there is a signal stop ahead, take a U turn simply by going
over the median. Wherever there is footpath, it is an alternate pathway for
these pathfinders.
-
When it comes to footpath, each of them is a legitimate car
parking space, especially in high end residential areas. Fancy villas have an
array of luxury cars parked on the stretch of pavement that’s in front of the
villas. Often times, the length of the car is more that the width of the
pavement. So the car juts out on the road, from both sides of the road, thus
narrowing the space for a 2 way traffic.
-
The exit for U turn is a small stretch of about 30 to 40
feet. One can find about 3 or 4 cars parked here comfortably overnight, until
they are ready for the day..
-
Permitting vehicles to use the shoulders during day time,
is a reflection of excess cars on the road, that it has become imperative to
permit such usage, which is perhaps prohibited anywhere else.
-
The pressure to restrict cars on the roads is so much,
that the rules for applying for license has been amended recently, such that a
new applicant for a driving license must be a graduate, drawing a salary of min
kd.650.00 ($200.00 pm) and must have completed at least 2 years as resident of
Kuwait. If such a license holder changes his job to a title different from the
title he held, then the license is cancelled !!
-
If a person has a license because his visa is that of a
driver, then his visa status has to be all through a Driver. Any change in job
title, will render license null and void. He can then only apply for a new
license only as per eligibility.
-
While Dubai removed all roundabouts in mid 1990s, Kuwait
revels in their presence, each one of them decorated with flowering plants and
greenery. There is no access to the landscaped portions though and it is
impossible for any driver to even give it a glance let alone enjoy the beauty.
-
One such roundabout next to our residence is a very
important junction for 3 major roads. Another roundabout nearby has six roads
converging. There are many more elsewhere. Conspicuous by its absence is
a signal system or traffic cops to regulate traffic at most of the
roundabouts.. The result is unbelievable confluence of irate, incensed
infuriated mad drivers in a bizarre attempt to avoid a collision and escape
from the stupidity of it all. Must be seen to be believed.
-
I am a witness to this madness for the past several
years, as my sitting room offers a good view of this roundabout and the long
stretch of crawling traffic, resembling a diamond necklace. Unfortunately what
glitters here is the glow of impatience and utter frustration, day in and day
out .. for how long?
-
Hello… where are the road planners? For a very rich and
affluent city state, such dim-witted planning is unacceptable. Glaring mistakes
as at roundabouts are the road signs. Yes, they are there, but in most of the
cases, the road sign is after the exit and not before, making it unhelpful for
a new driver. You have to know to get by otherwise you are lost.
-
Speed limits are a joke for the fast and furious among
the locals of all age groups. It’s common to see cars whizzing past at over
double the speed limit nonchalantly. During Ramadan month, close to the fast
breaking time, the hunger for speed is reflective of the impatience to be home
in time for Iftar. Beware, it is wise to be out of the way then.
-
If per chance you are in the way, then be assured of
flashing lights and tail gating so close that there is no room for the
slightest error .. God save you. Even at other times, flashing of headlights
demanding his right of way, is a very common feature. You can even see a car
pushing you off the fast lane and immediately turning to the right to make an
exit. Intolerance to see a smaller car ahead, is a common trait.
-
Parking signs for disabled is a tempting challenge to the
well built. There is no time to waste to find a vacant parking lot. The
tendency is to park right there. Often taking up more than one vacant lot..
common sight to see big luxury cars taking up 2 vacant spaces to park in a
haphazard way.
-
If you signal to change lane, be assured that the car in
the rear will pick up extra speed to ensure you do not change the lane or
exit.. why, you wonder. That is what the Kuwait dust causes.. numbing of the
senses.
-
It’s said, “If you love God, then Meditate; if you want
to meet God, try texting while driving”. A common sight is that of drivers
especially the fairer sex, happily chatting on whatsapp, or texting or on FB.
One such damsel put me in distress with a loud bang on the rear of my car in
rush hour. Yet she did not want to be disturbed. For well over 10 minutes after
the hit, she was still on her mobile phone, only to raise her head slowly with
a guilty smile and confessed, “sorry, I was on the phone”.
-
On the other hand, if a car driver ahead of you and on
your left side changes his mind and wants to turn right, no problem for him, he
just turns right, cutting you completely dumb founded. He turns at a
right angle. As simple as that.
-
For all the traffic problems, it is pure bliss to drive
during summer months when half of the town is away.
-
The bottom line in all of this, is that the bigger the
car, the smaller are the brains behind the wheels; the mental faculty being
inversely proportional to the price tag of the car. Perhaps almost in all the
above acts of arrogance and abuse one can see a big luxury car behind the
defiance, disobedience and desecration. Openly flouting the traffic rules are
embedded in the system.
-
Yet, for all the traffic problems resulting from
disobedience of the rules by the drivers of big cars, the blame is squarely on
the expat community. Columns after columns are filled with scornful rhetoric
blaming expats for all the ills of the society including traffic woes.
-
There exists a clear and brazen demarcation of
localities for local Kuwaiti & non-Kuwaiti for the purpose of quality of
roads, road markings, sign boards, street names, utility services etc.
Therefore it is no wonder, that the local youth think they are above expats by
status and right, in every way possible including usage of roads.
Having said
all of the above, I must acknowledge that when we return after a vacation from
India, or a business trip to China, Egypt, Istanbul or Vietnam, I find the
local traffic a pure heaven in comparison. You get used to the familiar belief
here, that anyone going slower than you is an idiot and anyone going faster
than you is a maniac.
Every time we
return home safely, is an accident. With all the madness and impatience and the
road rage in stark exhibition at every turn, it is but pure accident that your
car is not hit or rubbed or kissed by some other.
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Have a safe &
peaceful week ahead.
http://mohandas-sharedthoughts.blogspot.com/
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