I’ve had my fair share of bitching about traffic in Lebanon on this blog. But days like this, I cant help but wonder: what the hell is going on in some of these drivers’ minds? How do some of them have jobs to even go to? Who in their right minds would wanna hire them? Because the decisions they take on our roads are equivalent to those of an impulsive 2-year old that has no perception of consequences whatsoever.
I don’t like to generalize although I often do, there exists a category of people that drive a category of vehicles. I am now convinced that these vehicles are pre-designed to shut-off at least 50% of the drivers’ brains when they get behind that wheel. I had an interesting long conversation with a male friend about this and he had some pretty right-on observations. Some of you may accuse him of being a hater, but he makes some pretty good points nevertheless: ( excuse his French)
The BMW X5 driver:
No one is immune to this condition, once a Lebanese person ( male and female, no exception) gets into an X5, and a refurbished and reassembled second-hand one from abroad if I may, all hell breaks loose. They suddenly develop this tendency to drive like utter idiots. Speeding on all the small inner streets especially parking lots, at times running over unsuspecting pedestrians!!! They think that getting behind that wheel instantly entitles them to breaking all the rules because they are driving an X5! They don’t understand how silly, ignorant and classless they come off to the rest of us.
” Ba2ret il ML”
This is the frustrated housewife that has just dropped her kids off to school in the morning and wants to take it out on everyone else on the road. Her husband thought he’ll buy his wife this Mercedes SUV to help her climb-up the social ladder. It didn’t work. Instead, you can be driving on 70km/hr on the Autosrade when suddenly this hysteric woman appears out of nowhere only to try to get on that highway even if it means attempting to ram right into you or worse swinging her vehicle right in front of yours, and you suddenly find yourself struggling to change lanes to avoid the collision. And it gets better- SHE IS ON HER CELL THE ENTIRE TIME!!! She knows exactly why she deserved that crazy honk you send her way. But does she care? Hells NO! She showed you who’s boss; that’s all that matters.
Finally the Most Notorious of “Em All:
” 7aywen il Infiniti FX“
What is it with Lebanese men and a used Infinity FX?. They are strangely attracted to those death machines like bees to honey. This man stems from the gutters and probably makes a dishonest living yet he feels that his super-black tinted windows will make up for his classless being that no amount of cash could ever buy him. How does he do that? By terrorizing people on the streets. The scumbag will drive between cars at full speed causing others at time to come to a full stop on the road just to let him pass. He will drive behind you in 200km/hr and keep flicking his lights at you until you move out of his way. Blinkers are not even a part of his vocab. Do not attempt to ignore his bullying, he is a low-life SOB that will not quit.
I write this post with so must passion at a time where accidents are dominating our headlines. I know many of us are doing what we can do keep it civilized but I thought I would shed light on the freaks that should be held accountable. If you do drive any of the above vehicles and feel you have been unfairly judged, I do apologize but who should be apologizing to you in fact are those animals giving you a bad name. Bisoux
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Wow that’s a tough one! bas ma byijou gheir heik 🙂 You realize more how bad the driving is when you leave Lebanon, now I feel at peace with no need to fight anyone for my right to pass, no need to honk at anyone, too peaceful.
Thank God I sold my ML before leaving the country!! 😀
woww Ivy! great article as usual!
Don’t worry about generalizing, those categories are very accurate! in fact i think you missed the BMW 3 (series BOY 😉 ) driven by brainless Schumacher-wanna-be’s who end up putting their lives and the lives of other drivers at risk!
By the way, what car do you drive 😉 ?
you spoke my mind with the piece about 7ayawen il FX!
I think there are more than 3 categories. 🙂
Have you ever experienced I-have-nothing-to-lose attitude spread by those who drive very old cars who should not be allowed on the streets so much they are ill maintained with no lights whatsoever and broken mirrors?
Yesterday a high school student was tragically killed crossing the street on the way to school. The whole school has been in mourning. I don’t know the details of the accident but I’m sure that it could have been prevented. And then I leave school and of course see all the idiot drivers and I just want to scream at them, “A child was killed today! Please be careful!” The absolute worst are the cars and scooters that drive over the speed limit on a one way road! I don’t care if it’s a BMW, a scooter, or an old beat up taxi, this is just plain dangerous! If I could change one thing only about the driving in Lebanon this would be it.
great post ! we can feel u boiling from insidwe while reading it
Very true! Although I’ve been told that many Lebanese become expert drivers abroad because they’re so used to always expecting the worst from everyone else.
hehehehhe
zamatet me and my car! LOL 😀
i actually experienced on sunday one of the I-have-nothing-to-lose attitude as Rita called them. a car driven by an old guy crossed the red light speaking on the phone careless of the fact that it’s a highway AND NOT HIS TURN and my honking that could have woke up a whole country because i couldn’t hit the breaks for hadreit janebo yo2ta3…. and the best is he didn’t even car that i avoided a huge car accident by mm’s and kept driving and talking on the phone without even turning his head ….
All ykhali heik drivers!
what about bus drivers?! these guys don’t deserve to live!
these guys think they’re driving Minis! they drive excessively fast and switch lanes like crazy maniacs with zero consideration to whoever else is next to them.
I hate them.
Oh Ivy there’s so many missing! There’s the taxi driver, the bus drivers, the politicians? The list could go on.
LOVE the article! Thanks for posting it
You’re forgetting the Kia Picantos. They are the WORST.
it’s Picanto
I was on Hamra last night turning on the road to Younes. Aside from the normal waiting on a person trying to park it was ok…until a man drives the wrong way down Hamra (I think he was coming from the hotel) and cuts me and other traffic off so he can make a right turn. I yell and honk loudly, he just gives me the stare like it was his right to do what he just did.
Another one that irritates me is when a mini convoy of politicians come cruising by and waves you off and speeds along, like the road belongs to them and only them. I am tempted to keep driving and se how they react when i don’t yield to their awesomeness.
Special request:
The 3 Categories Of IDIOTS On the Lebanese Dating Scene
that should be a helluv of a lot of fun.