In my travels, I have experienced crazy driving before. When I was driving in Italy, it was sometimes intimidating to either get into a traffic circle or even get out of it. I would often go around several times before getting out. Everyone was zipping around the circle changing lanes, blowing their horns and yelling out the windows. In Ireland, driving down the tiny lanes that would not fit two cars and had stone fences was stressful (for Ken the driver). In Belgium, those coming INTO the circle had the right of way (those on the right always had the right of way). But, now, after the last few months, I have a new appreciation for American drivers, even those in Miami. :)
Now, we move to Saudi Arabia and its driving. There are cars making a left turn from the far right lane in front of two lanes of traffic. Cars going the wrong way down a street while the driver is talking on the phone. Cars driving on the sidewalk to get in front of other cars, NEVER stopping at stop signs, running red lights. Here is a diagram that someone put on Facebook about the driving here:
I don't know what "The BAWS" means.
Then, we travelled to China. You have 100x the number of cars, people turning left from the right lane. They DID stop at stop signs and traffic lights (most of the time). But to that diagram, add another big lane on the right for hundreds of motorbikes and then lots of pedestrians at every intersection. Pedestrians did not seem to have the right of way. It was chaos when you stepped into the intersection, even if you had the green pedestrian light. You had cars turning, motorbikes every which way (in front of you and behind you). You just held your breath and hoped that they knew what they were doing. It was something of a chaotic ballet. We survived, but I would never want to drive there.
Now, we move to Saudi Arabia and its driving. There are cars making a left turn from the far right lane in front of two lanes of traffic. Cars going the wrong way down a street while the driver is talking on the phone. Cars driving on the sidewalk to get in front of other cars, NEVER stopping at stop signs, running red lights. Here is a diagram that someone put on Facebook about the driving here:
Then, we travelled to China. You have 100x the number of cars, people turning left from the right lane. They DID stop at stop signs and traffic lights (most of the time). But to that diagram, add another big lane on the right for hundreds of motorbikes and then lots of pedestrians at every intersection. Pedestrians did not seem to have the right of way. It was chaos when you stepped into the intersection, even if you had the green pedestrian light. You had cars turning, motorbikes every which way (in front of you and behind you). You just held your breath and hoped that they knew what they were doing. It was something of a chaotic ballet. We survived, but I would never want to drive there.
