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saudi driving
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tedkarma



Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 1598
Location: The World is my Oyster

PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:13 am    Post subject: Re: Drive, he said. Reply with quote

johnslat wrote:
On another note, Arab News also says that highway police have started stopping reckless drivers after the traffic department found 63 percent of total traffic violations (2.88 million) took place on highways in 2006.


I'm not quite sure - but where else would the highway police expect to find traffic violations - other than on "highways"?

And where the he*ll does the other 37% of traffic violations occur - if not on the highways?
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007



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom

PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:11 am    Post subject: Re: Drive, he said. Reply with quote

tedkarma wrote:
I'm not quite sure - but where else would the highway police expect to find traffic violations - other than on "highways"?
And where the he*ll does the other 37% of traffic violations occur - if not on the highways?

In 'non-highways', secondary roads in cities, and in the desert.
One day, I have seen an accident in Abha where the car was on top of a tree!! How it happened, God only knows!
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Bebsi



Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 958

PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:20 pm    Post subject: Highways & Boyways of KSA Reply with quote

I saw an accident once in Abha where a car was wrapped around a tree in the central reservation...but still at ground level, tho. The same guy had passd me a few mins earlier, driving on the (raised) central reservation. He didn't seem injured, and was just standing there looking a bit bewildered Confused

I've seen accidents occur in many places in KSA besides on highways: e.g. car parks, pavements, open desert...why, even in people's driveways from time to time!! Laughing

Actually, I quite enjoyed driving in KSA. It's quite...er....fun, once you get used to the idiosyncratic approach, and I agree with Tedkarma that you need a car to have a life in KSA.

I also agree with Desert Traveller, once you get used to it then it's not that bad. Well, OK...you know what I mean!!

Any more practical advice out there, on KSA driving?
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You need a car to have a life ?

If your life means countless visits to the
Mall and 'Dunkin Donuts' you are right.

I will just stick at home with my books and dvd's thanks.
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cmp45



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA

PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with Scott; you don't need a car to have a life in KSA.

However, it depends on what you like doing in your life...so if driving around to the malls, etc is your thing then I guess ...get the car.
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:03 pm    Post subject: My way or the highway Reply with quote

Dear tedkarma,
Why, they probably take place in the bathroom.
OK, seriously - I believe the "highways" are the major roads outside of the cities, the ones connecting the population areas, where speeding is especially prevalent.
Think of CHIPS - California Highway Patrol: "At the time of its creation, the CHP was given the authority and responsibility to enforce traffic laws on county and state highways."
Or the State Police: "The North Carolina State Highway Patrol's primary mission is to reduce collisions and make the highways of North Carolina as safe as possible."
So, I assume the rest of the accidents take place within the cities.

Regards,
John
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Mark100



Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 441

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You most definitely ned a car so you can drive yourself across the causeway on the weekend.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

no need for a car
take a taxi
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ghost



Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:16 pm    Post subject: re ordering books? Reply with quote

Quote:
I will just stick at home with my books and dvd's thanks.


Is it possible to order books etc, through Amazon etc, when in Saudi, and does the Saudi Post office open packages, etc..?..

My main interest is ordering language books (foreign languages) cd's and also, possibly, some sports magazines, etc..

Thank you.

Ghost in Korea (www.gifle.go.kr)

My thought is that in a place like Saudi, some of the creature comforts of home may greatly compensate for an environment which is not always the easiest to live in. Thank you. In Korea, in some respects it is similar, and with books etc, a gym, pool and places to exercise, that is enough compensation for me. I am lucky in Korea, because I have small mountains and hills and forests a few minutes from the College, and I will miss that when I eventually move to the Gulf area (in September 2008, Insh Allah). The bicycle will also be missed - and I will have to get used to the idea of pedalling in place (on a home exercise bike) while reading books, in Saudi - not brilliant, but better than the alternative of not doing anything. Teaching is a pretty sedentary activity - there needs to be a balance.


Last edited by ghost on Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use
www.amazon.de
Very efficient. Parcels are routinely examined at the Post office but that has not been a problem.

German Amazon is more efficient than the others. Selbstverstaendlich ! And for those who have no German, you can order in English ! An excellent source of books in English, German and other languages !
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ghost



Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:04 pm    Post subject: re Reply with quote

Danke, Scot, ich bin so froh das wir die m�glichkeit Amazon Deutschland benutzen. Das ist wunderbar.

Viel spas und bis sp�ter.

Ghost in Korea
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:35 pm    Post subject: �ber alles in der Welt Reply with quote

Dear scot47,
So, in a nutshell, what you're saying is

"Deutschland uber alles."

Regards,
John
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

German Amazon is better than the others. And in foreign policy Berlin seems to be more sensible than many !
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:18 am    Post subject: Brunhilda - the German Amazon Reply with quote

Dear scot47,
I've never tried the German Amazon (sounds a bit like Brunhilda, doesn't it?)
but I'll gladly take your word for it.
No one, I think, has ever accused the Germans of being inefficient.
As to their foreign policy, I agree - a refreshing and very positive change for those of us old enough to remember.
But then, Germany seems to have paid attention to Santayana's observation that those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it -
something our present administration here in the USA clearly has not.
Regards,
John
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trapezius



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction

PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Now, what makes them the worst? Is it purely the fact that they make the Western driver uncomfortable on the road? Or is it more than that?
Quote:
If you think Saudis drive horribly, what are your criteria?
Quote:
I just can't see where it comes from.


Are you really that blind, or just thick?

Why do people say that they are the worst drivers? Well how about we look at it objectively?

Maybe they are the worst because the vast majority of them break almost every traffic rule quite frequently? Really, I don't get it how you could even ask what you are asking.

You need a pair of glasses, and then within a time span of 60 seconds, you will see at least 5 SERIOUS and SELFISH violations of traffic laws (within city roads, esp at intersections).

Quote:
But I would never say they are 'bad' drivers. It's just a different kind of driving.


Wow... just like robbers and killers are not really bad people, they just have alternative lifestyles!

Rolling Eyes

Hey, I guess cutting queues and other such (and worse) rude and insulting behaviour is A-OK with you. You must be a nice guy.
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