Thinking of driving in Egypt? Don’t! Unless you are considering shortening your life span considerably or have an uncontrollable urge to invest in car body repairs.
Don’t take this to mean Egyptian drivers are unskilled: it actually takes great skill to avoid getting killed in the malestrom of automotive chaos that is Egyptian traffic. In fact, they have the lowest road death rate in Africa, not far behind the European average. What you need to understand is that they operate under a completely different set of rules to western drivers and it’s unlikely that you would survive long enough to master them. Given that a 15min Uber journey will set you back only about $3 and public transport is commensurately cheap. there really isn’t much point in taking your life into your hands by attempting to do it yourself.
Many of the Highway Code rules are encapsulated in this photo
Hence, for your edification I have translated below the rules of the Egyptian HIghway Code in order for you to appreciate the immense level of skill demanded of Egyptian drivers and the futility of attempting to equal them.
1. Give way unto none, save Allah and traffic lights (occasionally).
2. The driver’s window should remain open at all times to facilitate the hurling of insults at other road users.
3. Your route ahead has been ordained by the Almighty. Your only responsibility is to usually avoid crashing into the similarly ordained vehicle directly in front of you, although at speeds of under 10km/h this may be considered acceptable as long as you are prepared to hurl sufficient insults at the other driver to convince him of your righteousness
4. Under no circumstances use the indicators, the horn is provided for this purpose (see below).
5. A thorough understanding of the functions of sounding the horn is obligatory:
a) To make other road users aware of your location.
b) To inform other road users that you do not wish them to get any closer.
c) To berate other road users for actions you deem to be unacceptable.
d) To inform other road users that you are unable to move in a traffic queue, as they are too.
e) To inform other road users that it’s been at least 30 seconds since you last used the horn.
6. It is a pedestrian’s obligation to avoid being hit by you, not the reverse.
Rule 6. in action
7. Always move forward to fill any available road space, it is of no consequence should this prevent every other vehicle from moving, particulary ambulances. At this point all road users must enact horn regulations 5c and 5d.
8. Lane markings, road signs and seat belts are provided for decorative purposes only.
9. Road users are required to follow instructions given by armed, officers in uniform. If either a uniform or armament is not present, it is at the road user’s discretion to follow the instructions.
10. Quran verse 65:3 And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will be enough for him.
11. Hadith (traditions of the prophet Mohammed)
A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave her untied and trust in Allah?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.”
