I have already shared with you that I think driving in Israel is a cross between Nascar and the game of Chicken. But I need to add another dimension: Obstacle Course.
I find that Israelis drive WAAAAAY too fast for the road conditions. And they tailgate. And honking is their second, if not first, language.
Take for instance the street on which I live. It is a one way street, 100% residential. I believe the speeds, if not posted, are as follows---40 kph in residential areas, 50 kph in commercial areas, 60+ kph on the wider highways and 100+kph on the Freeways.
My one way street has parking on ONLY the right hand side. But never mind. The neighbors ALSO park half up on the sidewalk on the left hand side of the street, which is already very narrow to begin with. Now it's made even narrower with the cars ILLEGALLY parked half on the sidewalk. OK. Common sense would tell you (at least it does me) that one should not drive fast in these conditions. 40 kph is TOO fast for my street. Yet drivers are constantly going 50-60 kph on it!! In a NEIGHBORHOOD!! Filled with children and mothers with strollers and car doors opening suddenly from the right AND the left!! With cars backing out of driveways where the drivers cannot see the traffic because of all the cars that are parked like sardines!!
When I drive in the city, some motorcycles are actually riding in the opposite direction, BUT IN MY LANE!! Or they will pass me on my left and drive in the oncoming traffic lane! It's like they have a death wish! I thought the motorcyclists in the USA were risk takers! It's nothing compared to these guys!! And when they are actually riding with the traffic, I watch as they
B-A-R-E-L-Y sneak between two cars with nary a half inch on either side. All it takes is one driver to realize, "Ooops!! I am supposed to be in the left turn lane!" and without a blinker or a hand signal, turn his steering wheel to the left and BAM! Down goes the motorcyclist.
The signal lights in Israel are interesting. There is NO TURN ON RED. PERIOD. Just remember that "Green is King" (Thank you Uri!!). If you have a green light, you have a protected left turn. (Make sure that you are at an intersection where left turns are permissible!).
So straight or left on green. The green light flashes 3-4 times when it is going to change to yellow. Depending on your speed and proximity to the intersection, you have a couple of seconds to decide to stop or proceed. If it's yellow before the crosswalk, STOP!!
Then again, when the red light is going to change to green, it will hold a red and yellow for a second or two. Note to yourselves: Start rolling forward on the red/yellow unless you want to hear a barrage of horns honking at you!! The Israelis are soooooo impatient!! Even at times when the traffic comes to a halt for some unknown reason, they all start honking. Why? I can't see why the cars ahead of me aren't moving, but there has to be a logical reason. The driver behind me can't see why I may be stopped (crosswalk, animal, road obstruction, etc). But even if there is no reason, there is the law of physics at work: I cannot drive forward until the car in front of me moves! Why do I feel like I am the only one here who gets that?!??!?!
I don't drive a car like I'm at Daytona. No jackrabbit starts or slamming on the breaks. Steady and gentle, that's how I like to drive. Conserving gas and my nerves. Why "race" to the next red light? Seems so silly. But if an Israeli can gain even half a car length from one signal to the next, oh my, he is elated.
Oh, and I have never seen a 4 way stop here....they are all "kikkars". Which I believe means square, but it's actually a circle. The traffic circle. Roundabout. Cars IN the circle have the right of way, and you are to enter when it's safe to do so. Well, that's the idea. However, here in Israel, as long as you don't make eye contact with the driver of the car in the kikkar who has the right of way, then apparently that gives you the "right" to enter. (Is my sarcasm coming through loud and clear?) :)
It's usually an E ticket, White Knuckler ride every time I get behind the wheel. If I had one shekel for every near miss I have personally witnessed, I'd already be a wealthy woman.
Ali
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