One of the advantages (and I guess disadvantages) of living in different parts of the world is that you do get to see in close up the different driving styles of different cultures.
I have posted previously about the very particular approach of Hong Kong cab drivers (essentially to take no prisoners when seeking the fastest route between points A and B). I believe I have also mentioned the astonishing incidence of traffic accidents encountered when driving around Beijing (I think on one occasion we saw three separate prangs in the space of 20 minutes).
The Sheik Zayad Road in Dubai was also a rich source of car related mayhem when I first arrived in 2009 (although. - touch wood - things seem to have calmed down in recent years). However, over the last few days we have been treated to a front seat to the chaos that is Riyadh rush hour.
Unless a gap is spotted in the traffic, there is no great speed (but of course if an opportunity arises to gain some small advancement if a space in a queue opens up, then full advantage is taken with much honking of horns and squealing of tyres). However, for the most part it is all about changing lanes and minute incremental gains as 5 lines of traffic converge on what is - at best - a three lane junction.
Tonight’s drive was no exception as we battled our way up an incredibly congested main road with multiple vehicles trying to get across from the near side lane over 3 lanes to the far side in stationery traffic. Fascinating to watch and likely to become even more interesting as the driving population of KSA is set to double over the next 7 years!
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