Saudi Arabia and India agree to study feasibility of establishing power grid    Saudi Awwal Bank records SR5.9 billion net profit after Zakat and Income Tax for YTD Q3    Economy minister emphasizes global partnerships to address pressing challenges Private investments in non-oil sector soar 70%    Saudi Arabia's GDP grows 2.8% in Q3, driven by non-oil sectors    PIF, HKMA sign MoU to establish $1 billion investment fund    Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian men to take off clothes as they evacuated war-torn Jabalya    North Korea fires suspected intercontinental missile    India celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights    'It was like a tsunami': Spaniards recount horror of deadly floods    Bahrain Crown Prince receives Saudi Interior Minister    In-person classes will remain suspended in Jeddah, Rabigh and Khulais schools on Thursday    HR Ministry takes penal action against 568 violators of Domestic Workers' Regulation    Derby Week makes its debut in the Roshn Saudi League    Al Nassr eliminated from King's Cup after a defeat to Al Taawoun    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    Othman Al Omeir receives Legacy of Change Medal at the UK Parliament for advocacy in media    Neymar joins Saudi fashion trend, donning traditional attire at Al Hilal match    Indonesia Days event celebrates cultural diversity at Al Suwaidi Park    Saudi Football Federation reappoints Hervé Renard to lead national team    Tarzan star Ron Ely dies aged 86    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







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YOU HAVE TO LAUGH
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 15 - 08 - 2008

DRIVING in Jeddah is no laughing matter. We have to be constantly alert behind the wheel, completely defensive, prepared for anything to come at us from any direction at any time, and constantly on the lookout for warning signals.
Furthermore, we have to be good psychologists and attempt to understand the complex mental calculations of the gentlemen (and one day, no doubt, the ladies) driving the other vehicles. What, for example, in any given circumstance are they likely to do?
This is a task which seems to become more difficult everyday and requires factoring in such data as: the time of day (Is it just before or after prayers?); the month (Is it Ramadan and if so, how many hours to Iftar?); and the time of year (Is it the summer and the temperature in the mid to high 40s?)
The sophisticated nature of the calculations we are required to make and the amount of data to be processed are possibly equivalent to NASA engineering the Mars Lander to alight within a meter or two of a chosen spot on the Martian North Pole.
And while we rapidly make these intricate calculations, we cannot allow ourselves to fall into the trap of being deceived by appearances. We all have heard of the Jekyll and Hyde syndrome which explains how on any given street in Jeddah a modest, mild mannered, milquetoast can morph into a raving, bloodthirsty lunatic behind the wheel.
Sometimes our analysis is made easier because the car itself is a dead giveaway as to how well balanced the personality of the driver may or may not be. When we see a fire engine red two seat sports car with a bright yellow racing stripe, and short emphatic statements of various degrees of politeness stenciled on the back with a sound system generously providing musical entertainment to everyone in a radius of half a kilometer, well, we should know what we are dealing with. We have been warned. And like all warnings (“Beware of the Dog”, “Danger High Voltage”) we are grateful that someone has taken the time and trouble to warn us to keep away.
However, unfortunately, there are also more difficult cases – unostentatious sedans driven by sedate, well-dressed gentlemen and often containing family members. Nothing untoward here, we might think. And that is where often we could be wrong, and should not be surprised when that particular Mr. Hyde right in front of our eyes performs some feat of automotive daring that would strike fear into the most stout hearted Formula One racecar driver.
Perhaps, in defense of such drivers, we should examine some of the mitigating circumstances. A cursory glance at some of these vehicles indicates that they contain a hub of activity, and that what is going on inside the car or SUV is of far greater concern to the driver than the traffic outside.
Seatbelts have long been an established requirement for drivers and occupants of the front passenger's seat. Yet, in some cars, you see a multitude of children of all ages climbing over the front seat, the backseat, halfway out the window, standing up through the hatch in the roof, and even proudly sitting in the driver's lap with hands on the steering wheel.
Food is being passed hither and yon, babies' diapers are being changed, and children's demands are being attended to. It is truly a festive atmosphere, and indeed after certain football games, flags of often enormous size are held out the window to flutter in the breeze.
Everyone is clearly having a wonderful time – a celebration of spontaneous human joy and happiness on wheels.
However, though one hates to be the cause of rain on any parade, one can't help wondering what effect all of this has on the driver. Does it make Mr. Hyde a milder and more reasonable man? Or does it in fact cloud his perceptive abilities, and encourage him, for example, to engage in a bit of aggressive daredevil lane changing, dashing at high speed into an empty space between two cars, when he really should have waited?
We all know that on an airplane, no matter how much fun the passengers may be having, they are not allowed to enter the pilot's cabin uninvited and bring their children to crawl over the controls and sit in his lap. And I doubt that any of you would fly on an airline that allowed such passenger behavior.
So the next time you see the pilot of the vehicle in front of you in a similar situation, remember: You have been warned.
Really, You have to laugh. __


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