31 Things I’ve Learned About Driving By Living in Oman

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When we moved to Oman, we started noticing a few little things that were different about the way some people drove here.  We laughed them off as “bad drivers” and Omani* eccentricities.  But after two years of driving here, I’ve come to realize that people really do drive differently here, and in a lot of ways, and while some of it is annoying but funny, some of it is a bit dangerous.   Yay for us as parents already worried enough with two young children in tow.

You know how moms always say be careful out there when you drive and you chide them back saying, “Mom, I’m a good driver!  Trust me!” and then she says “It’s not you I’m worried about, it’s the rest of the drivers out there”, that is what it’s like here to a much more serious note.  You absolutely have to be a defensive driver, and a driver who is paying attention at ALL times.   If you get stressed out easily as a driver, this is not the place for you.

So here is my list about what I’ve learned about driving from Omani and other Eastern expat drivers here in Oman. 

1.  Seatbelts are optional, even for children.  Carseats are too.  (This is a hard one to see, no humor here.)

2.   The word “merge” does not have any meaning associated with driving.  You’re on your own buddy.  No one will speed up or down to help you enter the highway, and often, you will be fighting to find a bit of space to enter, even if that means weaseling your way between to huge trucks who apparently don’t see you or don’t care.  And if someone does, BY CHANCE, slow down or speed up to let you in, they will do it wrong, and then you are just as screwed trying to merge.

3.  If you don’t take your foot off the brake when the light turns yellow to prepare to turn green, you will be honked at (lights turn yellow again before green here). 

4.  Stop signs are suggestions.  Stoplights are the only ones that matter.

5.  Headlights are a great way to communicate, not just illuminate the night.  They can mean good or bad things.  “Hey, move, I’m going way faster than you and you need to move over to get out of my way” or “Please, you first at this turn”.

6.  Right of way is another term that has no meaning.   You better watch out or you will be hit.  Or, they will stop to let you turn first when it’s not your right of way, which makes for a very confusing moment at the intersection as they flash their lights at you (see #5).

7.  Woman drivers are not good drivers.  Normally, this stereotype bothers me, but no, really, here, local Omani woman drivers are the worst.  They either drive way too fast and carelessly while texting (see #9), or they driver white knuckled and make nervous errors.  Either way, they are dangerous, so it’s best to stay a couple lanes away at all times.

8.  No local from Oman seems to know where they are going.   “Ah, my exit!” as they sweep across three lanes of traffic.  “Oh, this isn’t the lane I wanted to be in, let me just attempt to join your lane right in front of you, almost making you rear end me.”  “Oh, I wanted to turn at this intersection!  I’ll just turn anyways, even though I’m not in a turn lane and will cut in front of you.”

9.  Everyone can be texting on their cell phone while driving and it’s a good idea to look at it a lot while doing so.   There technically is a law here that using your cell phone while driving equals jail time, BUT it must never be enforced by the cops (see #20).   Please, people, at least call the person so you can watch the road!

10.   You do not want to get into a wreck with a big yellow tanker truck of you will be in a load of crap. (they are full of crap, literally).

11.  No one must be able to figure out left turns here without a light because there are medians and islands everywhere, so you have to wait to get to an intersection or a round about to U-turn on to the other side of the road.  This is probably good since they don’t seem to know where they are going as explained in #8, and could slam on their breaks at any moment to make their turn if the medians weren’t there.m Luckily, left turns are permitted in neighborhoods but even then, you could be in danger (see #6).

12.  Park in the shade or have a windshield screen, especially during the hot months because you will get a 3rd degree burn touching anything non-fabric upon entering your vehicle.  Thank Allah our landlord installed a parking shade last month.

13.  A car made for 6 people can easily carry 10.  See rule #1.  Squeeze in and children (and/or adults) on laps!

14.  Turn signals are pointless.  If I’m in a turn lane, you know what I’m doing, right (in theory cause #8 could apply)?  If I start to drift towards you, then I’m coming into your lane.  What else do you need to know, buddy?  The ONLY time they are necessary is if I forgot where I was going and got in the wrong lane that isn’t for turning, so I’ll put it on so you know I’m going to butt in front of you (again, #8). 

15.  The way to go is Pajero.   These are pretty hot SUV’s, no question there, and that is why ½ of Oman owns one.  And if they don’t own that, there are a bevy of other car models not seen in the US that are awesome.  Like our Nissan xTrail.  It would sell like hotcakes in the US!

16.  Rain = snow, dust storm = pea soup fog.  Drive accordingly.

17.  It is absolutely okay to park anywhere when the lot is full.  On the sidewalk (very handy if you have #15 or another SUV), behind someone, in the right lane on a street, anywhere!

18.  Speed really is monitored by radars here.  Learn where they are, and drive fast between them.  If you do get a ticket, that’s okay, we can just pay our fines when the time comes, especially since they don’t cost much (tickets incurred must be paid annually before your car registration is reapproved, but tickets do not affect your insurance.)  You know which Omanis have a lot of money because they are the ones flying down the highway and don’t break for the radars.  Now, if speeding and tickets actually started affecting insurance rates, THEN maybe things would change.  Maybe.

19.  Hope and cross your fingers that you don’t have car problems.   Communicating and scheduled car work/maintenance is a roller coaster that will just make you sick.  

20.  It’s not exactly clear what policemen do in Oman besides direct traffic when a light is out, drive on the highway, and blockade the roads when the Sultan or another important person is being driven somewhere.  I OCCASIONALLY see them on the side of the road with a pulled over car but why is a question. 

21.  You never go home the same way you got somewhere because of #11 and #24.  It’s almost impossible to do so.

22.  Passing is permitted anywhere, anytime.  Going to slow through the neighborhood?   Don’t mind me, I’ll just zip by you even if we are in a residential area with children and no sidewalks and there is a blind corner ahead.

23.  Taxis and buses can and will pull over anywhere to drop off and pick up riders.  Yes, this on ramp is a perfect place to pull over suddenly in front of me.   Why of course on top of this overpass is an ideal place for a worker bus pick up.

24.  If there is an off ramp, there is a 10% chance there is an on ramp for going back the other way on the highway.

25.  Roundabouts are awesome.

26.  Taking a taxi is done at your own risk.  They aren’t metered, may not have seat belts, and the driver probably doesn’t know where he is going.   Best bet is to find a friend or walk.

27.  All lanes on the highway are the fast lane or the slow lane.

28.  If the lane you are in has an arrow indicating it’s a turn lane ahead, it probably won’t be in another 100 feet.  Be ready to change lanes.

29.  It’s okay to drive a lot here cause gas is cheap and in supply.  $1 a gallon.  It’s like they are giving it away to us!

30.  There is no road rage here.  There may be a lot of aggressive drivers here, but they won't ever shake a fist at you, give you the bird, or act like they are going to side swipe you to try to scare you (yes, this happened to me in Oregon last summer by one driver).  

31.  Above all else, keep your car washed and spotless.  And don’t worry, it’s not hard to do.  There will almost always be a guy waiting to ask you if you want your car washed anywhere you park (this could even be at your own house by a worker walking by). 

*  Disclaimer-  If you are an Omani who has happened upon my blog and read this, please do not be offended.  Other nationalities make up the drivers here in Oman, like expat workers from India, Bangladesh, etc...  It is not just Omanis that drive this way, and of course, not all Omanis or other expats all drive the way I write about above.  All 31 items are generalities and listed for humor and fun as they are different than in the US and can make us crazy sometimes (although, as I said, some can be dangerous).