It is truly worrying everytime you get in a cab or one of those minibuses,I suppose it's not that different to private hire in the uk who are rushing back for the next fare,whilst the hackney carriages who are on metres take their time and the long way round lol.

Hi all

Found this article - might interest some

Sahara Overland ~ Egypt travel information

Hi

If I am banned from driving in UK can I still get an Egyptian Licence. What is the situation regarding licences /tests for motor bikes and what sort of prices can you pick motor bikes up for

Cheers

HI LEILA,

AS I DONT DRIVE I CANT CRITISIZE OTHERS BUT EGYPTIAN DRIVING SEEMS TO BE TOOT IF YOU ARE MOVING. I WAS TOLD IN LUXOR THAT IF YOU WANT TO GO OUTSIDE THE SECURITY AREAS YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY THE POLICE AND THEY MAY INSIST ON YOU TAKING A GUARD WITH YOU , THIS MAY NOT APPLY TO THE RED SEA COAST BUT IS WORTH LOOKING INTO.

ELAINE

I observed an Egyptian friend driving around El Gouna at night on his black motorbike wearing black without any lights on. I found him later and asked why he didn't turn his lights on. "No its fine, I can see where I am going" he replies. I asked him how everyone else will see him when he is all in black and that someone might pull out infront of him because they can't see him. "No it is not a problem" he replies. And why don't you wear a crash helmet. "Because I am only driving around El Gouna".

And there are many hundreds more stories like that..................

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Georgina

When our son was a toddler we were regularly chastised for strapping him ino his baby seat in the car. We were told he should be allowed to be free!!! In the Gulf the standard of driving is extremely bad but made worse because the roads are good and most of the cars are new. It is nothing to see, on a daily basis, women driving with their baby on their lap, children standing with their heads through the sunroof as their parents drive, and to see someone driving without being on their mobile is very rare. I don't really understand this mentality. It's as if people here - and in Egypt too I suppose - don't have the imagination to see what could happen. In the local paper yesterday, was the case of a mother who left her 18 month old in the charge of her 4 year old, (wheelchair bound) son. If that wasn't bad enough she left a pressure cooker on the stove. The baby was killed when he pulled it down on top of himself. His brother, who witnessed it and couldn't stop it, is traumatised. I know that's nothing to do with driving but illustrates the attitude.

I am NOT saying this is the attitude of all Arabs - my husband is more careful than I am, and believe me, that's saying something!!

Incase you missed my post on other thread this is important....
Taken from Egyptsearch Forum

Hi , thought this may be useful , came across this on Egypt search forum

The General Manager. Gen Sherif Goma'a the assistant of the minister of Internal affairs for the police regulations, is urging all drivers to take heed of the new law terms regarding traffic before the 1st Aug 2008 the deadline of starting the execution of the new law.
He is urging all drivers to check their cars to see if they are fit to drive in regards to safety.
He said to the newspaper of the Massa'a, he indicated the importance of some of the new terms of the new law which he thinks can stop the chaos of the traffic in Egypt.

One of the most serious fines will be a fine to taxi and microbus drivers who refuse to accept to take passengers without valid excuse or driving the taxi with passengers with the meter not working or if they ask for more money than the meter says, or takes more passengers than the car was designed to take.
That fine alone will be from 300le up to 1500le according to offence
Fine of 300-1500le and 6 months prison for anyone any who makes any sexual advance in his car.

up to 6 month prison and a fine of 100-1500le for any driver who tips rubble on the road, or throws rubbish from car, cans, food etc, or causing any type of pollution or making noise which can distract the driver or drivers around.

100-300le for not using seatbelt for driver and all passenger.

6 months prison and a fine from 1500-3000le for anyone carrying a radar detecting device or affects the radar function.

100-500le fine for driving without licence present in the car.

1000-3000le for driving against traffic.

20,000 le fine and 6 month prison for anyone driving a vehicle with any prohibited ie drugs or counterfeit items in it.

6 months grace for Tok Tok drivers to allow them to register with licencing dept and to discuss routes and fares

Parking in no parking area 30le
Driving without seatbelt 50le
Using mobile phone when driving 50le
Eating drinking or smoking when driving 50le
Putting children in front seats 50le
Sitting on stop line at traffic 50le
Driving a car with foreign registration plate 150le
Driving a car with non Egyptian driving licence 150le
Not stopping at checkpoint 250le or (shot dead which ever is easiest for the policeman)
Driving through a red light 250le
Driving against the traffic 250le
Driving whilst drunk 500le
Driving without your licence in car 500le
Exceeding the speed limit by 1-10 kmph 50le
10-20 100le
20-30 150le

more than 40kmph exceeding the limit 250le
Aisha ( Kim)

congratulations queenie40something - on your 2000 post - phew!!!

Thankyou - I didnt even notice lol. Wow 2000 - thats alot of writing!!

I guess it is still OK to drive at night without any lights on

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Georgina