Update 16/8/08 - Al Ahram Weekly article. I have still to see any police vehicle with driver or officers wearing seat belts. Not a good example! The triangle and first aid kit idea, so rumor goes, has been given a 2 to 3 month grace period? The traffic police at Maadi station told us they are coming in November.
Update 11/8/08 - my midnight trip to airport
We headed out at 1:30 am to meet KLM landing at 2 am to meet my daughter. My route from Maadi took me over the Tora bridge to autostrade, U turn on autostrade, then over to Salah Salim street near citadel and onward to Airport. I chose this route as should be best lighting compared to death defying ring road or straight down crazy autostrade. First impression was traffic was heavier than I expected at this time of night but think it is normal. On autostrade had to deal with heavy laden trucks hauling concrete doing about 5 km/hr so not able to travel road speed - against the law so it says. Other observation included these open delivery 1/2 ton trucks and encountered over 6 of these all driving at high rates of speed and no lights on. Few speeders dashing past on right hand lane then jamming into the 2 lane bridges. Did not see any of these so called high tech motorcycles, patrol cars, or in fact any police at all on roadways. Guess bad people drive only during daytime?
However, at airport a different story. If one knows the airport at all, we drove to Hall 3 arrivals in terminal 1. Across from the terminal there was many cars parked on roadway say about 40. I mentioned to wifey no one was not allowed to park here before so guess they changed the rules! As we sat for a bit, more cars pulled in and parked in front of us. So far all was good and we went into arrivals hall and it is set up quite nice with cafeteria, flight arrivals screens, and big wide screen showing people in baggage collection area. And cold as hell.
Daughter was about first one out as I had a Mr fix-it meet and assist chap. All kisses and hugs and out to car and Whoooops! Tire clamp on the mercedes. The only car tire clamped out of the 50 cars or so. Anyway to make long story short walked up the street and found the head honcho officer. Asked him why my car was clamped? Was it open season on Mercedes? He stated he did not have to explain! So paid 25 LE fine for ticket and 1 LE for stamps that some poor devil has to lick and stick on all the tickets in his booklet. And then, as a departing salvo stared and said we made him late for prayers! And he also said these other cars are for security officers so I am sure the all female group that got out of car parked in front of me were disguised with their close fitting sweaters and nicely tight jeans
Only other observation was the tunnels are blocked from 12 pm to 6 am. I did not know that. And just after the opera tunnel I slowed ,as could see several cars taking up all but fast lane with their emergency blinkers on. As we crawled closer it was obvious with the horns and decorations this was a wedding entourage out for late night, as seems it was more fun than dancing.
Further down the roadway, we go to right side of bridge, to wind our way through city of dead and end up on autostrade again. Good thing this is my route, as bridge to corniche was also blocked to car traffic?
At end home safe, once again, and all traffic police, I am sure, were well rested in their beds for next daytime onslaught.
Update 8/8/08 quote from Al Ahram Weekly "
"The new traffic law came in force last Friday. It stipulates fines ranging from LE100 to LE3,000 and includes jail sentences for some violations, and the suspension of drivers' licences for others. As of Monday 862 licences had been suspended and LE60,000 collected in fines".
See full article which comments that in a few months all will be forgotten!
These videos explain how crazy and dangerous some drivers are Link 1
Link 2
Update 4/8/08 while imbibing on a few cool ones at ACE Club friend mentioned one of his staff where stopped while holding his mobile phone for conversation. Policeman warned him only, advising to stop car and talk or get hands free. Also heard of instances where police pointed at drivers to buckle up but did not stop them to fine them. So they are being courteous up to this point. Also in a Arabic local newspaper they reported 15,000 fines (seems a huge number) been issued, mostly against trucks, buses, and minibuses not driving in the designated right hand lane. Stopping these mini buses stitch driving while speeding, as they act as king of the roads, will do wonders to Cairo traffic
Update 2/8/08 friend said driving down cornice road beside Nile, there was a definite presence of police groups and they did no get bothered but observed all mini buses, and uses in general were all driving in right hand lane and not stitch driving amongst the lanes. that is good progress. Article of general interest from Egyptian Gazette
Update 30/7/08 article from Al- Ahram weekly July 23 to July 30 edition Living Dangerously
Update 29/7/08 - visited Maadi traffic police station and advised the first aid kits and triangles would be available November - assume they meant Nov 2008?
Well - panic has set in. And we all know the traffic police will be out in huge force come Aug 1st to show they mean business. I will update this blog with personal, and others I know, experiences as we go along,
I really hope they enforce the important parts - like half ton truck with 30 people in back, cars driving with no headlights them flashing high beams about 30 meters in front or you, dumping construction rubbish everywhere even to block half road, a young group in fancy car cruising in Digla, throwing out Kentucky boxes from car window, cars with no lights coming wrong way in Maadi at night, without lights, and scare shit out me; speed bumps that magically appear on road and launch car in space (speed bump fetish in Egypt); vehicles broken down and leave huge rocks on road to warn you, then drive way and leave them in lane (another reason I will not drive at night), crazy drivers on death road from Maadi to Kattameya - I don't drive that often but every time I do I see results of at least 1 accident , on same road crazy 1 ton tall delivery truck driving about 120 km/hr and went past me and hit back of tourist bus and almost fell on me ( I drove out of problem and he ended up nose to median) and bus ignored problem. I did not stop as would have ended up in Jail for beating him up!
Well the first aid kits - well at moment by government admission, there are 5000 available for 26 million vehicles. In the souks there is a run on them of any dimension and contents?
The triangles - looked today and none! But be sure the souks will have them soon and prices will not be what is stated. Will the Chinese type work?
Last time I was walking down road 9 in Maadi, I counted 11 of 40 cars with drivers with belts on. Yes I have too much time on my hands.
Well we don't know yet what is going to happen so let's go back to no smoking law in public places. In first week I was going to domestic airport and people where being warned about smoking. Next week the police where smoking.
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