Driving in Rabat

We've been here two years and haven't really mentioned the joys of driving in Rabat.  It really isn't any different than any of the other countries we've been (all in Eastern Europe) so I guess we've pretty much become accustomed to it.  But one thing's for sure, it's NOT like driving in the United States or Western Europe.  So here are some of the rules of the road in Morocco:

1.  Traffic laws are based on the kind of car you drive.  Mercedes and BMWs have zero laws that apply to them so they can basically do anything they want.  If you drive a "lesser" brand of automobile you really only have one rule you need to follow:  Mercedes and BMW's get to do anything they want so don't  get in their way.

2.  Lanes are anywhere you choose to make them.  You can drive between the lines or you can straddle the lines. You can do any combination of the two.  But if those are the only possible lanes you can think of, you really need to work on your creativity.   Just watch the Moroccan drivers to learn about the more creative lanes which are between or straddling the lines in oncoming traffic, and using any available space that will get you to the front of the line so you don't have to wait.  And if you drive a Mercedes or BMW there is no excuse for not knowing or following these guidelines.

3.  When changing lanes, cars not visible to  the driver while looking strait ahead don't exist.  Simply put, if a car is not even with you or ahead of you, even if only by a fraction of an inch, you are free to move over.  It is their responsibility to move out of your way.  On the other hand, it you are slightly behind another car, be prepared to move when they need to make a lane change.


4.  If a policeman sees you "breaking a rule" and you aren't in a Mercedes or BMW, he will blow his whistle at you.  If that isn't enough to make you think twice about doing it the next time, I don't know what is.

5.  On the rare occasion that a policeman does blow his whistle and the offending car actually stops, traffic  will immediately become gridlock as all the cars behind the offending driver will immediately move over into the next lane so they don't have to stop while the officer collects his br....issues a citation.

6.  During rush hour at the busier intersections the traffic police control the lights manually.  If you get impatient and honk at them, you had better be driving a Mercedes or BMW.  Otherwise you will just make them mad an you will have to wait even longer.   But the maximum amount of time you will have to wait is only until the other traffic going crosswise clears out enough for you to move into the intersection and force them to either stop or hit you.  But just know in advance that this action will get you honked at by the other driver and a whistle from the policeman.

The main thing we as Americans have to remember is that when we go back to the States, we are NOT in Morocco anymore and that following any of the rules above will have consequences.


~Brent