Driving in Egypt

[M Butler]

Well done and congratulations Georgina.

Our turn next. Wish us luck.....

Margaret

[Georgina]

First get at least four passport size photos.

Go to the hospital and get a medical and eye examination certificate in Arabic each with your photo attached.

Go and see Madam Sabah at the Traffic Office which opens from 8am. Take with you:

Medical certificate
Eye examination certificate
Contract for your house
Passport
British or International Driving License
Utility Bill or Bank statement with your address on
Copies of your passport and visa
Copies of your driving license
Copy of your contract for your house

Next a security guard will escort you to the Chief's office where he will question you. Expect a long wait to see him. This office is next to the building where you get your visas.

A paper will be sent to the Traffic Office in Cairo and takes at least three weeks to come back.

When the paper comes back it is entered in a book in Mr Attaya's Office just to the right as you come through the gates. If it hasn't come back and they send you to the Chief's office take with you the number they assigned to you before the paper was sent.

Take the paper to Madam Sabah and she will arrange for the driving test through the traffic cones. These are usually held in the afternoon after 1pm. If you fail the test you must take it again the following week.

Next day return to Madam Sabah again with all your documents. Wait to have your computer photo and the ten year license will be produced in about one hour.


Good luck

[Georgina]

Ministry of Interior - Central Traffic Department

[M Butler]

Originally Posted by Georgina

Ministry of Interior - Central Traffic Department

Thanks Georgina. Brings back horrible memories of driving tests in the UK!!!! Some of the signs are bit strange and I don't think I have seen many of them on the roads, but that is not too surprising, is it?

Thanks again,
Margaret

[Huda at pyramids]

Originally Posted by M Butler

Thanks Georgina. Brings back horrible memories of driving tests in the UK!!!! Some of the signs are bit strange and I don't think I have seen many of them on the roads, but that is not too surprising, is it?

Thanks again,
Margaret

I'm a bit confused, I also got my license about 3/4 of a year ago, and everything like Georgina describes it is also what I've experienced, but I didn't have to do a test for traffic signs.
Maybe that's why I till now still interpretate the signs as it suits me.
I drove all over north west Africa and all over Europe and all I can say is that the most important rule is that there are no rules in Traffic here, so the signs are meant as decoration.
And I'm a big fan of abstract modern Art, it's all about interpretation.
Oh my, I'm being sarcasic. I'm sorry, but traffic here in Egypt is truly one of my biggest irritations. It's so dangerous, I've seen boys drive mini-busses, they were hardly big enough to look over the steering-wheel, and old man working as taxi-driver that could hardly look further that the bumper of their cars and they drive through streets where childeren are playing.
Many times my heart takes a leap, and I feel 10 years older.

That's why I've started my "supermarket-campagne", I like to ask, after or actually while my heart is taking a leap, which supermarket had a special offer of Rogsa's (drivinglicenses) if you buy 1,5 kg of milk.
Specially in a microbus that has it's result, because suddenly all the passengers start dissing the driver and he knows, he made a mistake or did something incredibly stupid. And usually slows down.

Though I have to say something, after I got married we went on 'honeymoon' to Cairo so my husbands family could get to know me a bit. We rented a car, because that would be easier in Cairo and in the end it would safe money and give us more comfort, ok, no problem for me (my husband doesn't drive).
Was the first time for me in Cairo, but I was confident and it really turned out not to be a big problem, if people would use their mind.
But the good part is, that I learned a lot of Arabic in these 10 days. So there is something good about it. Though my respect for Cairo sank like a stone, I started feeling like there life only donkeys in Cairo. People really don't care about anything in Cairo traffic, they complete life according to the InshaAllah methode. Ok, InshaAllah is good, I'm a Muslimah myself, but being suicidal is not Islamic and neither is being reckless. But what is most terrible is the result of this behaviour. They cross the street in front of you, you hit the brake and stop on time, nobody gets hurts or damaged. and then they start shouting at you, like you're the one who made the mistake even to come to this street.
Let's hope that they change this whole system, and start with making it more difficult to get a license, that wouldn't be a problem for the Europeans, because we all have our experiences, but at least it would make a bit more selection within the Egyptian drivers.

I'm going to stop now, because otherwise I will end up writing a whole book about Egyptian traffic

Warm regards,

Huda at Pyramids

[Peter Mitry]

Originally Posted by Huda at pyramids

I'm a bit confused, I also got my license about 3/4 of a year ago, and everything like Georgina describes it is also what I've experienced, but I didn't have to do a test for traffic signs.
Maybe that's why I till now still interpretate the signs as it suits me.
I drove all over north west Africa and all over Europe and all I can say is that the most important rule is that there are no rules in Traffic here, so the signs are meant as decoration.
And I'm a big fan of abstract modern Art, it's all about interpretation.
Oh my, I'm being sarcasic. I'm sorry, but traffic here in Egypt is truly one of my biggest irritations. It's so dangerous, I've seen boys drive mini-busses, they were hardly big enough to look over the steering-wheel, and old man working as taxi-driver that could hardly look further that the bumper of their cars and they drive through streets where childeren are playing.
Many times my heart takes a leap, and I feel 10 years older.

That's why I've started my "supermarket-campagne", I like to ask, after or actually while my heart is taking a leap, which supermarket had a special offer of Rogsa's (drivinglicenses) if you buy 1,5 kg of milk.
Specially in a microbus that has it's result, because suddenly all the passengers start dissing the driver and he knows, he made a mistake or did something incredibly stupid. And usually slows down.

Though I have to say something, after I got married we went on 'honeymoon' to Cairo so my husbands family could get to know me a bit. We rented a car, because that would be easier in Cairo and in the end it would safe money and give us more comfort, ok, no problem for me (my husband doesn't drive).
Was the first time for me in Cairo, but I was confident and it really turned out not to be a big problem, if people would use their mind.
But the good part is, that I learned a lot of Arabic in these 10 days. So there is something good about it. Though my respect for Cairo sank like a stone, I started feeling like there life only donkeys in Cairo. People really don't care about anything in Cairo traffic, they complete life according to the InshaAllah methode. Ok, InshaAllah is good, I'm a Muslimah myself, but being suicidal is not Islamic and neither is being reckless. But what is most terrible is the result of this behaviour. They cross the street in front of you, you hit the brake and stop on time, nobody gets hurts or damaged. and then they start shouting at you, like you're the one who made the mistake even to come to this street.
Let's hope that they change this whole system, and start with making it more difficult to get a license, that wouldn't be a problem for the Europeans, because we all have our experiences, but at least it would make a bit more selection within the Egyptian drivers.

I'm going to stop now, because otherwise I will end up writing a whole book about Egyptian traffic

Warm regards,

Huda at Pyramids

Hi Huda

My business partner Nick (Propertastic) wrote a book about property in Hurghada; I think you just qualified to write the first 'foreigners guide to Egyptian traffic laws (or lack of them)!! Very good and very true!

[Georgina]

Originally Posted by Huda at pyramids

everything like Georgina describes it is also what I've experienced, but I didn't have to do a test for traffic signs.

No I wasn't tested on traffic signs but I thought the link would be useful. I am sure someone told me I would be tested on them.

[Huda at pyramids]

Originally Posted by Peter Mitry

Hi Huda

My business partner Nick (Propertastic) wrote a book about property in Hurghada; I think you just qualified to write the first 'foreigners guide to Egyptian traffic laws (or lack of them)!! Very good and very true!

Thanks for the idea, it really could be possible to write a complete book about Egyptian traffic. Though I have to say that I'm already busy writing a book at the moment. It has some connection with this, but my book will be more generally about my life in Egypt and all the experiences I've had, from working, owning a business to getting married and to becoming Muslimah.
Let's say a book about more then 2,5 years Egypt and the results of that.
And the fun part is, the longer I stay here, the more I have to write about and the more I realize I really should spread my experiences.
So many times I wish I could have warned somebody from making a mistake, or could have told her about men. Anyway there's a lot to say.
But most of all I write for myself, because really life here is more fast then in Europe and believe me if you live here and don't keep track, you will forget everything.

I'll let all of you know when I finish.
And then I'll ask Nick for advice about how to publish it. InshaAllah

Warm regards,

Huda

[Traveller365]

Very informative for all blogs and much appreciatted.....

[nubianqueen]

hi

i miss all of you i had to smile, reading about the traffic in cairo, it know it well. though i am not doing it so often as i continue to be in the nightmare of hv, so it was a nice relief to remember how i came to be on the site, all optimistic, hopeful and niaeve and to say hi georgina, hi queenie, hi dave 99, hi peter mitry, hi lsab if you are still reading, it seems so long ago when i first found this site, still collect all the information and inshalla, maybe within the next month some happy news let you know.

nubianqueen