Driving in Saudi Arabia

Driving in Saudi Arabia is crazy!  I should say being in a car is a crazy experience.  Women cannot drive.  You see people making right hand turns from the left lane, going up embankments to get around, driving very fast, etc.  Ken has a driver for work.  From what I am told, that is a good thing, because if a non Saudi gets in an accident, he starts out being 50% responsible even if he didn't cause the accident.  Then, it gets worse from there. 

Just about every time that I have been out and about, I have seen an accident.  On the way to Zumba the other day, we saw three accidents.  When Ken, Chris and I went to the bookstore in downtown the other night, we were actually IN an accident.  We got bumped from behind.  The other driver started yelling at our driver and our driver was yelling at him.  Chris asked if he was going to stop.  Finally, he stopped, in the middle of absolute mayhem, and checked his bumper, they yelled some more.  Then they both got back into their cars and drove off, still yelling at each other.  Our driver said that he didn't get much damage but the other guy did.  So, it was OK.

Today, we had a caravan of 4 cars taking 14 ladies to a restaurant for a going away party.  On the way, there was an accident with a car and a tanker.  Everyone just immediately diverted through the gas station on the right and back onto the road.

I am always wearing my seatbelt!