%uTraffic and Driving%u and other Yemen Warning Or Danger Tips

If there are any rules of the road in Yemen, they are ignored by the vast majority of drivers, making the traffic and driving in the country some of the most chaotic I have ever seen. Drivers aggressively tailgate cars ahead of them, coming to within mere inches, and constantly sound their horns (or flash their headlights at night), in order to try to force the other cars out of the way. (I had problems sleeping during my first night in Sana'a, one of the reasons being the constant blaring of horns all night long).

In some of the major cities, there are traffic signals which no one seems to see. Drivers routinely drive right through red stop lights, and on-coming traffic, which should have the right-of-way, has to yield. Everyone who approaches an intersection seemingly has the right-of-way, and drivers are constantly pulling into the path of on-coming vehicles. Laughably, there are traffic police posted at some of the busiest intersections in the cities, and no one pays them any heed at all.

Marked lanes on the roads are completely meaningless as drivers pass each other and jockey for position. As an example, if there are two marked lanes on a road, there might be four or five lanes of traffic. Outside of the cities, drivers pass other vehicles, pulling out into the lane of on-coming traffic. Somehow the on-coming drivers move over enough to avoid a head-on collision.

In the cities, pedestrians walk right out into the traffic and seem to have no fear. I would not have the nerve to cross some of the busy streets in Yemen. Unbelievably, there seem to be few accidents involving pedestrians or between vehicles. And despite the apparent craziness of the driving, traffic flows, and I never experienced traffic jams such as are common in the West.

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Off-road desert adventures are an activity that is becoming more popular among visitors to Yemen, especially in the sandy Empty Quarter. There are sand dunes, mountains, wadis, and pools and waterfalls to explore. Because of the dangers of desert travel, anyone wishing to participate in an off-road trip should go with an experienced guide. Otherwise, getting stranded in the desert can be fatal. It is easy to lose a sense of direction, especially because in the deep desert, all sand dunes look alike. It is very easy to become hopelessly bogged down in the sand and very difficult to get out. And the intense heat, especially in the summer, can impair the judgment of almost anyone.

For those who choose to go into the desert alone, there are certain precautions that should be taken to ensure a safe trip. First of all, a plentiful supply of water must be taken. In hot weather, a person needs about four pints (two liters) of water per day. Also, a medical kit is a must.

For driving in the sand dunes, it is necessary to slightly deflate tires so they will have adequate traction in the sand. An air pump will be needed to re-inflate the tires after leaving the sands. And drivers should proceed at a slow, steady speed. Accelerating and then quickly braking can cause a vehicle to become stuck in sand. A shovel for digging out, and planks of wood or mats to be placed under the tires can be helpful in getting out of the sand

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