Problems on hold

When I tackled the news report which was broadcast by the BBC on its TV channel last month under the title “Cairo: the worst capital in the world traffic-wise”, I said we needed to confront the problem by taking a bold decision to privatise the traffic apparatus. This would achieve total separation between the management, human resources, and training of traffic men and policemen. The intermingling of both the traffic and police apparatuses regarding these aspects has only succeeded in saddling us with a traffic corps that is very poorly qualified yet possesses the irreproachabilty, immunity, and awe commanded by the police. Nothing can be more telling than the fact that the new, much-touted traffic law disregarded all the deficiencies on our roads—including the notorious flaws in road planning, the absent guidance signs, the poorly-qualified traffic policemen, and the inferior licensing process which results in permitting unfit drivers and vehicles to travel our roads—and instead focused on harsher penalties for violators. To say nothing, of course, of the reflective triangle and the first aid kit that are to be made mandatory in all vehicles despite expert opinion against their benefit. Using the same police approach, they were declared mandatory nevertheless.
Traffic violators are caught in a rather crude, despotic manner through surprise checkpoints that are set up to occupy the width of the road, resulting in severe traffic pile-ups. Predictably, and apart from violations concerning valid licences, the violations caught in this way are the minor ones such as using the cell phone while driving or failing to use a seatbelt, and even these may not be caught since the traffic pile-up in itself warns drivers that there is a checkpoint ahead. Major traffic violations—which are alarmingly widespread on Egyptian roads—go undetected and unpunished. At one point the traffic authorities had promised to use mobile squads to catch violators on the road, but this never materialised, and drivers continue to violate the law to their hearts’ content, sticking out their tongue to the traffic men—pardon; to the traffic policemen.
The absent coordination between the traffic apparatus and the local government gives rise to countless problems. Local government is in charge of road planning, operation, and maintenance, as well as providing adequate parking space, while the traffic apparatus is in charge of controlling the movement on the road. Both authorities tend to cover up each other’s deficiencies, while at the same time announcing that whatever shortcoming is not their responsibility. And why should not they do so while no official is ever held accountable?
I have personally been through an experience that sums up the ridiculous state of the roads. On a main road in the Cairo suburb of 6 October City—and when I say main road I mean that vehicles travel at high speeds, was a severe constructional irregularity of the type that involves a high portion in the road followed by a severe drop. This is extremely hazardous since the driver may easily lose control of the vehicle, and it is up to fate alone to save him since no one can predict what other vehicles are on the road. I thank divine providence for emerging unscathed from this deadly snare. However, when I had to travel that road again a week later, I took care to reduce my speed to avoid any accident but, to my utmost amazement, I found a sign had been posted there warning of “a very dangerous bump”. The sheer senselessness of the situation left me flabbergasted. Was this the utmost the traffic authority could do? Incidentally, the road at this spot has now been repaired, but the sign still stands.
You see what I mean when I say our traffic authority needs to go private? Anyway, this is a long story.

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