Driving in Kuwait #3 - The Directionally Challenged

This morning's lesson is titled "The Directionally Challenged". Now, there could be many meanings with a title like that, right? But here is where I am going with that...it is not uncommon (AT ALL) to be driving down the highway, and see a car driving AT you. This is because if it is easier/faster for a Kuwaiti to drive north in the south-bound lanes that is what they are going to do. No need to go up one exit, get off the exit and reenter going north...they simply drive the wrong way down the road. No kidding.

Another thing that adds to this fun is the fact that the sand that borders the highways is regularly used as a parking lot. Again, no need to go to the next exit, get off, turn right and come down to your house or apartment...simply pull off the highway (keep in mind this is a 120 km/hr - 75 mph highway) and park at the fence, walk through the hole in the fence to your house/apartment. At least a good 4 minutes saved, and never mind the fact that now you will be re-entering the highway doing 0 km/hr while the rest of traffic is clipping along at 120 km/hr...until you pull out in front of them and experience the joy of watching the mass chaos that will follow.

Now when they get back in their car, they often want to travel in the opposite direction of the side of the highway where they have parked. Therefore you now see the need to travel the wrong way down the highway (NOT in the sand, ON the actual highway). They also use this technique when they have dropped someone off and need to go in the opposite direction for a block or two...no reason to waste that precious 2 minutes to go up one block and turn around, simply drive where you need to go and let the others deal with it. Love it.