Getting from place to place in Kuwait can be a stressful experience. It seems like everyone is following their own sets of rules and you don’t know which way to go. We’ve found that there are seven types we always meet on the road when going any distance further than a kilometer.
The Bullet
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a teenager on the 5th ring road whose foot got stuck on the gas pedal, in a new supercharged car. For all The Bullets out there, it may seem like speeding down the highway is the greatest fun you can have, but we guarantee you won’t enjoy trying to crawl out of an overturned car. For everyone else, keep your eye on the rearview mirror. If you see a blur, switch lanes immediately.
The Switchers
Right. Left. No, right, actually maybe left. These are the drivers that can’t seem to make up their mind on which lane they want to be in. They keep attempting to get in the faster lane, but can’t seem to figure out which lane that actually is. In the end the only thing they accomplish is to slow everyone else down.
The Cutters
You’ve been in the lane to take a turn for the past five minutes. You inch closer and closer to the opening, and freedom from the congestion is in sight. Suddenly, a car comes whizzing past you and attempts to steer right into the few centimeters between you and the car in front of you. A new turn lane is created by people too impatient to wait in the lane, and t seems like you are backing away from the turn instead of getting closer.
The Bumper kissers
You’re driving down the road, at a decent speed, going with the ebb of traffic. The lanes are packed, and there’s nowhere you can go. You can see the guy behind you coming up fast, but not fast enough to be a Bullet. Seconds later he’s right on your bumper, flashing lights, beeping his horn. You can see him yelling at you, and though you don’t know what he’s saying it’s apparent he wants you to move. Resist the urge to slam on your breaks, forcing The Bumper Kisser into a fender bender. It isn’t worth it.
The Beepers
You’re at a traffic light, and it’s just turned green. You’re just pulling your foot off the break pedal when someone starts beeping behind you. You slam on the breaks again thinking something is wrong. The beeping gets louder, and you realize it’s just someone too impatient to wait the 2.3 seconds it takes to move your foot to the gas.
The Confused
The car in front of you has their left signal on as you come to an intersection. You move to the right, appreciating that someone finally has the decency to use the blinker. But, as you turn right, you realize that the car is moving with you. The blinker was a hoax! You go back to the left lane and they come with you, again. Finally you get out from behind them, look over and see that they are completely distracted by something on their phone.
The Drifters
Though thinking outside the box may be encouraged, it’s a definite no no when driving. The lines are there for a reason. Yet there is always that one person who isn’t changing lanes, or trying to get anywhere. They are just letting their car go in whichever direction it pleases. They drift into your lane slightly, just close enough to freak you out. Then slowly back into their lane. Step on the gas and get away from that car, lest they drift close enough to crash.
