Driving in Cairo

[vicki2]

It's probably sort of like NYC ...where taxis have seatbelts and by law you are supposed to use them. Most people don't for a couple of reasons. YOu want to be able to jump out if you need to and with the plexiglass partitions in most taxis, there would be nowhere to go even if there were an accident!

[den123]

I always sit on the back seat facing sideways and clinging for dear life to the back of the seats at both sides of me. At the same time my eyes are shut and I am praying to whoever will listen.
The last taxi I got in the "driver" proceded to get out his photo album and only occassionaly glanced at the road, when I shakily disembarked I counted the wheels as I could of sworn there were only three of them.It is a nerve wracking experiance.

[tater03]

Yes I would agree that it can be a nerve wracking expierence. I have had a few of them in taxis. But after reading all the above posts I would never attempt to drive. Heck if crossing the street is that dangerous I can only imagine what it would be like to drive.

[MissTami]

i love driving in cairo!
i get my experience from driving in new york city when i go to see my man, mohamed...he is an egyptian taxi driver, but in NYC...and sometimes when he drives my toes are completely curled and im constantly hitting the invisible air brake lol

but when im behind the wheel, the freedom of wizzing in and out of traffic and lanes is so exhilerating.

[mushtaq]

I like that fact that you can park virtually anywhere, it's a right pain having a car in London, very little space allocated for parking so many cars, and then if there is space the charges are just crazy.

[GM99]

I'm living in Egypt for 9 years now, but I drive in Cairo too! Egyptians drive crazy, they don't know any rules.
Since last year my children are going to school in Cairo, my eldest two will go to university this year. I am driving my daughter (now 12) to school, it is a short way: just from Mohandeseen to Zamalek. (2.5 km, sometimes it takes me 20 minutes!) Every other weekend we are going to Hurghada by car, I am always happy when I have left Cairo behind!

But I've heard that the traffic is much better since the new traffic law.