A news report broadcast by the British Broadcast Corporation on its TV channel last week under the title “Cairo: the worst capital in the world traffic-wise” exposed the disgraceful conditions of our roads to the entire world. It exposed the shoddy road construction, the hazardous traffic, the inferior driving ethics, the absent safety accorded to pedestrians, and the appalling apathy of the traffic police. Now we know that our roads have acquired world fame and, after their notoriety had been exclusive to the residents and visitors of our country, the BBC carried their fame to the whole world.
The reportage begins with scenes of the familiar crowds and chaos in the streets of Cairo. Then a black Mercedes comes along in the direction opposite that of the traffic, challenging the crowds of vehicles in the other direction and absolutely indifferent to the traffic policeman. Can you imagine why? Well, the camera closes up on him seated on a wooden bench on the sidewalk with his hands behind his head, yawning.
The following scene was a frightful one—that is, frightful for viewers all over the world but, deplorably, not for Egyptians. A woman is driving with a child seated on her lap. No-one around appears to be in the least bothered or anxious about what could happen to the child.
Then comes a motorbike whirring its way in the traffic and carrying three adults, one of them a woman carrying a child. None is wearing a helmet. Even though the report focuses on this as frightfully hazardous, Egyptians would not give it a second thought.
The interesting part comes when the announcer attempts to cross the street. He tries to cross along the zebra lines, but no vehicle stops, or even slows down, to let him pass. He gives the viewer the benefit of his experience, advising them to cross at their own risk, using all the alacrity and manoeuvring skills they can manage. It would be quite unwise, he says, to depend on the traffic lights, the traffic policemen, or the courtesy of drivers—none would be of any help.
Then comes a scene which is, alas, too common. An ambulance car is locked in the traffic, and no amount of siren-blowing can get any driver to give it way. The announcer is right to wonder aloud how many patients may have lost their lives before reaching the hospital, victims of being in a car which all drivers teamed up to delay?
At the end the announcer informs viewers that a new traffic law has been passed around a year ago and is being implemented. The traffic police has been equipped with new vehicles and is now on the alert for any violators who drive without fastening seatbelts, use cell phones while driving, or drive without licence plates. The scene of a young man who was stopped and is being questioned for driving without licence plates may have left many viewers aghast but Egyptians would probably exclaim: “Is it the end of the world?”
Even though the report merely tackled a portion of the traffic violations we live through every day, it is deplorable by all standards. We may respond in one of two ways. We may either use the by now familiar approach of denying there being any problem in the first place and alleging that the BBC was merely trying to tarnish Egypt’s image. Or we may bravely admit the appalling state of our traffic and seriously try to find a solution to it. Which brings on the question of why we do not seriously consider privatising our traffic administration. But this is another long story.