Driving in Egypt

[Winged Isis]

Talking of driving on another thread got me wondering... Are there driving schools in Cairo? I've read how easy the licence test is, so was wondering if there is anything so formal. How much per lesson for an Egyptian??

[Glyphdoctor]

Yes there are driving schools, using non-automatic cars. My husband did it earlier this year and he had 8 one hour lessons at 30LE/hour. A Dutch friend of mine learned to drive in Cairo using one of the schools too so foreigners can do it as well.

[Ebikatsu]

I've seen a couple of training cars with the light on top like taxi's but they were like wrecks and neither instructor was wearing a seat belt

I'd love to know where the Instructors train

[Winged Isis]

Thanks both. Manual instruction cars; that's good. Instructors; that was my next question! GD, which company and was he happy with them?

[Ebikatsu]

I don't know if driving lessons are a good thing if you plan to drive here.
Because the test is so easy to pass, you really don't need to be able to do anything except switch it on and drive 20 ft forward and then backwards.

I think in many way coming from another country like UK and driving and being taught there is actually a disadvantage because the rules simply don't apply here, so you are actually more dangerous to follow your UK rules and any sort of safety aspects.

The thing that seems to prevail here is you don't check who is in front, beside or behind you. Mirrors are not used here, neither are signals.
Like as an example.

Anywhere else if you see someone attempting to cross the road you would naturally slow down and stop, and all the cars around you would do the same especially if it was an elderly or young person or a woman with children, so you all slow down in a line together.
NOT here. What actually happens is they SPEED up, and the other cars behind will try to manouevre around the people crossing and any cars in front, to get ahead. So by you actually slowing down and stopping you will ,most likely cause an accident as they will plough into your back.

Cars and drivers would very rarely stop or slow down for any pedestrian even if it is a blind man with a walking stick. They just don't do it.
It's all about a race to be in front.
So to be honest I would think that any Egyptian driving school would just teach you to look ahead and accelerate because that is what they all do anyway. Most cars mirrors are missing or not adjusted anyway, and I doubt any Egyptian could reverse just using mirrors. They have to hang out the window.

[Winged Isis]

Thanks, Ebi, but I am inquiring for my husband. I have absolutely NO intention driving in Cairo (but hope to eventually in Luxor), despite many years of experience here! I am many things, but NOT suicidal!

I am thinking of doing this as a birthday gift. He can "drive", having been "taught" by friends at home, but I imagine some official lessons wouldn't go astray!

But mainly, as part of our campaign to get him a visa to travel here in the future. Apart from him being desperate to drive my Peugeot convertible (that's why instruction in manual gear-changes are good), we hope it will add to the slowly growing file of documents for application, on the grounds that it is proof he is preparing for a life here one day, whether full or part-time.

But everything you said about driving styles is absolutely true! :worry:

[Glyphdoctor]

There is a driving "school" in Luxor attached to the office where they issue the licenses. But to be perfectly honest no one seems to get the license by the official method nor the same method as the next person so I couldn't say how it actually works but I believe on paper it may be required to get the license. There are lots of schools in Cairo. My husband just used the one that happened to be here in the neighborhood.

[LivinginLuxor]

I have to disagree with Ebi - after driving in the UK for many years, and taking a defensive driving course with the company I worked for, I find that driving here is relatively simple, and that by mentally looking ahead, and physically using my eyesight, I can anticipate most of the things that badly trained Egyptian drivers do. Just be aware, look ahead, and use the lessons that you have learnt in the past, and you will do fine on Egypt's roads.

(But it does help to have a Jeep with bull bars!)

[Winged Isis]

Thanks all, but we are now forced to stay in Luxor this visit, so will look for a company there. Could be handy info for the future.

[Ebikatsu]

LIL

tell me that when you've driven round the Cairo Orbital a few times

[Goddess]

LIL

tell me that when you've driven round the Cairo Orbital a few times

Thought that myself! Luxor would be a breeze compared to trying to turn Left on the Alex corniche!

[Horus]

Me too, I have driven nearly every type of vehicle going and in loads of different countries, but Cairo would scare the crap out of me

[Scott]

I spent over 5 years running around Russia in my BMW - no probs - Cairo not much different from Russian drivers!!!!

[Ebikatsu]

This is the kinda thing you need in Alex




and this big bugger for the Cairo Orbital

[Scott]

I was sort of thinking of a HUMMV!!!!!!!

[Ebikatsu]

dp

[Ebikatsu]

Nah Scott

only the 'Rich brats of the Fat Cats' in Alex and Cairo drive Hummer's.

It's sooooooooooo last season dahling

Hover and Bumper are the 'New Black' this season.

[Scott]

It's called Defensive Driving!!!! LOL!!!

[Goddess]

:lol:

That Hovercraft could come in very handy!! Especially in Alex - could miss the corniche all together and just zoom up and down the shoreline.