Getting Behind the Wheel In Crazy Cairo (If You Dare)

Planning to drive (or walk) in Cairo? You need to watch this video.
You’ll learn:
• Why it’s important to get enough cars to follow you into an intersection
• When you can drive the wrong way down a major highway.
• What it means when a driver is flashing his lights at you.
• Pedestrians do NOT have right of way.
And most importantly, a guaranteed way to find a parking spot for your car in one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
Also… the Egyptian afterlife for cars and upgrading your lowly Kia.
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Closed Captioning - Thank you!
SPANISH: Sergio Julian, DRAX Produktion (www.draxproduktion.com)
Category: Travel

[@yteilab]

This is actually incredibly accurate. On the other side, when i left Egypt to Germany years ago, i couldn't drive for years, i had anxity while driving because of the many rules. When i decided i need a German licence, i passed the driving test right away. the German examiner asked me if i used to drive in Cairo, i said yes, he said: "i should have given u the licence without a test, if u can survive in Cairo, u can drive anywhere" :D

[@Leeny.]

😂😂

[@Leeny.]

Greetings from Germany, Berlin.✌🏻

[@aboalardat]

It’s the opposite in Canada! They tend not to give us licenses because we have driven in middle east as we come with bad driving habits!

[@saebibrahim-2286]

I think ur not telling the truth LOL, cuz who drives without rules takes alot of time to know how to follow rules while driving, especially in Germany it's too hard .

[@bimmer.jooe34]

Hahahaa

[@jaidoua1]

Bangkok: “our traffic is crazy!” Cairo: “hold my shisha pipe”

[@ShaqItGood]

I thought Manila was already crazy but this one takes the cake.

[@spoonkiller7elie]

Bangkok is actually the least crazy traffic in south-east Asia. Only tourist who come to Asia for the first time proclaimed that its dangerous.

[@soapysoaperton]

Motorcycle seems like the way to ho huh?

[@Bandole]

Pretty interesting how humans always organize themselves, no matter how chaotic the situation is.

[@emiliomontiel3284]

Crazy part is..NO ACCIDENT AT ALL

[@thorbrigsted5580]

@@emiliomontiel3284 It's hard to have an accident in a perpetual traffic jam

[@FirstName69]

@@emiliomontiel3284 That's not true. There are LOTS of road fatalities. Obviously they're not going to show it on camera.

[@epicmaj8r]

New York City: no one respect my traffic laws Cairo: 🙄

[@Rim_ismail.]

Casablanca : what 🤪

[@flosset9640]

you guys are getting traffic laws?

[@aaronsanpablo302]

Manila hold my drinks

[@hillarsk]

Cairo be like: What traffic laws?

[@hillarsk]

FR BRO@@flosset9640

[@mostafahassan9419]

Haha I'm Egyptian and most of my life decisions I take into consideration how am I going to avoid traffic and driving!

[@OurHumanPlanet]

I love it! It's not that different in Los Angeles... :)

[@karimlol9072]

Mostafa you’re not the only one I’m an Egyptian and live in Egypt and I drive and I’m so use to this traffic to I used to cross roads like this going to school ages 9 by myself and I’m now 30

[@serhiy1237]

​@@karimlol9072​, survivorship bias.

[@martyreimer]

@@OurHumanPlanet Oh yes it is! I grew up driving in LA and I've driven here in Cairo for 25 years -- absolutely no comparison!

[@cartoonziadnada7121]

wow

[@frenchartantiquesparis424]

The Ladies calm soothing voice over this crazy video is perfect....

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you! :)

[@notch156]

I will never complain in the UK again

[@josephbenadam]

Yes mate hahaha

[@fadgad6355]

"If you getting a new car, enjoy it while you can " its so true here in Egypt...

[@crucialmind7801]

If someone hits u in Cairo and it's not your fault, then this person pays some money to you to repair it??? :p

[@cakebakery9541]

@@crucialmind7801 or they drive off lmao

[@mentalhospital1701]

⛽

[@MahendraSingh-iy3yb]

Mumbai : we don't follow traffic rules here. Cairo : Hold my pyramid and lemme take U-Turn on this single lane road.

[@sunilanand1007]

Don't forget driving on the highway, ON THE WRONG SIDE lol

[@Strazman]

I just got back from a 5-day trip to Egypt (well, it was a 3-week trip to Italy, with 5 days of Egypt mixed in the middle), and I can tell you that this video actually understates just how bad the traffic really is there. We flew in to Cairo Airport and took an Uber into Giza. We then Uber'd around Giza, Cairo, and Memphis and I must say that I have never seen more unsafe and insane traffic in my life. This video gets it right to an extent, but you have to be there to really understand just how barbaric it really is.

[@abaza1646]

Other than that did u enjoy it? Lol

[@repetermusic]

About traffic lights: there was a research of a European University, think it was Paris, about traffic lights in Kairo. They found out it would even get worse if they would put some up. I think they were right. Kairos drivers seem to follow their own rules. Really funny to watch, the vid gives a perfect impression.

[@carolinekanini6342]

We love it that way

[@weareallbrainwashed5101]

I am Egyptian, and after years in USA. I can’t handle visiting egypt for more than a week.

[@akelly0033]

It works for them though lol

[@iqrasiddika1462]

I live in London in the Uk and I went on holiday to Egypt, Cairo and I can tell u that I enjoyed the crazy roads, traffic and honking. I miss it so much now that im back.

[@Inexpressable]

From England too and in a weird way I think I'd enjoy it as well. But only on a holiday like that.

[@nuthinnew3881]

I'm from London and it's giving me road rage anxiety

[@adamsayash]

Unless you live in it 24/7!

[@alexalexandrakis8205]

Yeah, actually I am from London and I have driven a few times in Cairo, when you are on holiday and time is not an issue, I really enjoyed driving with no rules at all. I am sure a lot of people from abroad would pay to experience this car driving experience, lol.

[@sudaisoo00]

@R Yeah a little bit

[@alihelmy885]

As a Egyptian I’m always having a calm day ... Until I go to Tahrir square then I have a panic attack trying to get back home , to and from appointments

[@abaza1646]

See the thing is us Egyptians like to express ourselves through driving😂

[@StardustPilot]

This video just makes me more hungry to get back to Cairo in about 8 weeks. I must be a crazy one but loved the orderly chaos of the streets and roads.

[@amrosalah01]

It is called constructive chaos :)

[@lizlatef8766]

Stardust Pilot i love driving in egypt. It moves smoothly but surely when there is allot of trafic. People pass you like a slice of cheese lol just adjust your side mirror and its safe to go.

[@khardu]

I love Egypt and its amazing people.

[@djcandle3863]

I just landed back in the states after two weeks in Cairo where I rented a car. While it is DAUNTING on first view, it’s actually very easy to navigate once you overcome the initial hecticness of it all. There’s a very good ebb and flow about it all which after 2 weeks behind the wheel, I didn’t encounter any accidents. Not one. There are unwritten rules of the road that everyone knows and follows. Don’t cut people off and become defensive. Rather, understand that you go, than I go. I allow you in, you allow me in later and Vice versa. Once that basic fundamental is obtained, the rest is easy as anywhere else. The laws are just suggestions but follow the code of the streets and you’ll do just fine. Overreacting to anything and everything may just well give you a panic attack lol

[@nnvbnn]

Very bad advices. Traffic rules are supposed to be international and they should be applied everywhere

[@mr.raccoon6079]

@@nnvbnn Well, not here in Egypt

[@brbonesporco2050]

@@mr.raccoon6079 we noticed that by the circus show

[@mirasibai2001]

I love Egypt and all, but wow the driving is actually crazy and dangerous 😳 I'm never gonna complain in the UK again

[@fowziyoahmed3975]

I know right

[@abdallahelsharkawy3701]

It adds a sense of adventure to everyday commutes. Though outside of the overcrowded downtowns things are slightly less chaotic.

[@AnaMariaVanHemelryck]

It is exactly that! I lived three years in Cairo and I got used to drive there!

[@ianthomas2728]

I live in Melbourne Australia and have sold 2 elderly Peugeots; a 404 and a 505 and to an Egyptian business man who freights them over to Cairo for spare parts!

[@davids.5021]

The Accuracy in this is actually shocking

[@OurHumanPlanet]

:)

[@alihelmy885]

David S. Yeah it’s sad but hey don’t need to experience is if u don’t live there

[@rawpalembang2957]

Hahaha thats true. Even actually they are best driver.i mean the accuracy

[@daradeng4164]

Been living here for about 2 years, I found this video is very TRUE and accurate

[@CaptainMarci104]

I was in kairo last wednesday and the traffic is horrible. In addition there are almost no traffic lights and you can literally do whatever you want. Everybody is honking for no reason. Its medieval, and the whole city is fucked in general, but i saw not a single crash, so it seems to work.

[@daradeng4164]

a lot deadly crash happened almost every week. You don't seem much crash as traffic in cairo is heavy and speed is very low, so won't have serious crash inside the city but small scratch or hit, which drivers won't care much and move alone with their business

[@hunggrapes5532]

My son in law is from Hurgada ans he was telling about the crazy drivers out there, he refuse to drive and takes the taxi or bus !

[@umont13]

CaptainMarci104 you should look at it as their culture. Just how some places are different all over the world. For example I think this is very interesting and cool

[@noRandom]

Well at least spell Cairo right...

[@dhimanluy1640]

CaptainMarci104 I lived there 4 years, 1 hour to school 2 hours back ,pretty normal fo me

[@thedeuce1374]

I've driven in New York, LA, San Fran, and I thought it was a blast! Like a video game! But when we honeymooned in Cairo I had to admit that was the one place that I would never want to drive.

[@MohamedKhaled-oz6dm]

If you can drive in egypt you can drive in any country

[@billc6087]

When I was 16 my family moved from sunny California to Karachi, Pakistan. I was a recently licensed driver in the US, but I learned my way around Karachi quickly! There were really only two rules of the road in Pakistan: If you are bigger, they will get out of your way. If it is bigger than you, get out of its way! As a result, I was also able to negotiate my way around Cairo like a pro...also places like Rome and Paris. What a great time I had!

[@jackholder7979]

I just got back from Cairo and it was the most crazy place I've ever been in terms of driving, I thought I'd seen road danger travelling in Asia, south America, south Africa but nothing comes close to the streets and highways here especially at night, every car is trashed, people drive the wrong way up highways, horses, animals and people walking between cars at speed then to top it off vans stopping in the middle of highways people just getting out and crossing the road, first place I've ever seen families of 4 on a single motorbike, I loved the experience just be prepared it's more crazy than the videos make out.

[@hal3745]

This is incredible. Such a different way of life. I totally respect it .

[@noureldinkhalil4458]

I've been an Egyptian expat in several countries for 14 years. Because I learnt to drive in Cairo it's hard to learn to follow the rules at first where they're followed. In countries with not-so-strict driving, it's much more fun - like Cairo without traffic!

[@Jako1987]

I liked that "right to repair" part 😂

[@Omar-ti7ew]

I LOVE YOU EGYPT ❤️😂

[@daddyrabbit835]

I've witnessed this first hand. It's unbelievable how everything keeps moving.

[@ramijabi98]

well, i'm not an egyptian but i've been living in egypt for the past 10 years and believe me after 10 years Egypt traffic and the way of driving here have never ceased to amaze me up until this day, taking a public transportation is like watching a horror movie especially in downtown cairo and near cities, i'll never be able to drive in here

[@globalSchelmuffsky]

such a nice contrast between that calm and orderly british comment (with a calm jazz background) and the real egyptian chaos. I LOVE IT! 🤣

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you!!!

[@samirmagdy4119]

Trust me when i say its way easier than it looks, especially if you’re a half decent driver. It actually becomes fun weaving in and out of traffic, no rules no speed limits. Just you and yiur car. Literally like your playing gta. However sometimes when the traffic comes to a complete stop then you’re screwed and you hate your life. Also this is slowly but surely changing. president el sisi has started widening roads, making traffic lights and generally enforcing traffic law. So maybe in a couple of years we can become normal. Doubt it though..

[@LearnMore-xh6fr]

سيسى ها ها

[@barta5ot-395]

yea, driving in egypt is way easier than it looks. Ive driven in the more developed middle eastern countries with strict traffic laws and found Egypt hands down easier and more fun to maneuver around.

[@weka301]

Yeah, he built a bridge on the Nile and drivers pay to pass. Such a shame.

[@anubis1243]

@@weka301 isn't that the case all over the globe?

[@a.refaat693]

Yeah iam 15 and i can drive there it isn't that hard

[@Pvkasz]

This is a great way to show the number one rule of driving safe: Be predictible

[@longlivekemet4358]

I am an Egyptian girl, and I say that we drive the car anywhere, in any way, and this is not crowded for us, and we also do not need a traffic light at all😂😂

[@freeagent8225]

The highlight in Cairo is crossing the road, a great feeling.

[@crea8or]

I've spent 20 years out of my 30 Years old life stuck in traffic!

[@hombrezmendez9775]

Was there in the summer, incredible place. Great report of it

[@kalimunda77]

The narrator is awesome. I could listen to her all day long.

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Kalimunda77! You made my day :)

[@ThecodbroZ11]

I thought it was glorious! The most fun I've ever had behind the wheel

[@alielrefa3y800]

this is so realistic. im from Cairo btw.

[@farisdokmak1753]

We have a saying in egypt if you can drive here you can drive anywhere 😂😂😂

[@mamdouh-Tawadros]

Good video. Another point to note is that if you drive by western/international driving rules, you might have an accident. When I go back to Egypt in my vacations, I use Uber, or ask a friend/family for a ride. Never drive.

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Yes! I agree completely. Driving by western rules makes you unpredictable. Thank you for the insight.

[@aishah6792]

That is so true! I was born and raised in Egypt. Thank god I learned how to drive in the U.S. Now if I ever go to Egypt, I don't think I'll ever drive there.

[@alihelmy885]

Maybe in a few years or a 10 years time it will get better

[@mrpirate4100]

If you can drive in Cairo, you can drive anywhere.

[@ehabelgawady]

What an entertaining video :) ...I am Egyptain and I confirm every word you commented very funny and real video.. I can't believe this page still 20K It should be 2M!

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Ehab! You made my day :)

[@JUSAGUYNKY]

J Utah’s Cairo video brought me here.. CRAZY!!!

[@hashimahmedali6794]

I’ve been to Egypt many years ago 😂😂 It’s an amazing country with a lot of energy. But, over population is making live really hard. And btw, it’s much different in Alexandria which i find to be the best Egyptian city. Better weather and nicer ppl with a lot of beaches 🏝 😎

[@princessnina3310]

Cairo is very populated I think the 4th most crowded city but all the other cites is not I don't why all the people want to live in the capital

[@enthusiastisch1922]

Well that's why New Cairo City is there and people on the average wage are moving there.

[@Hellesssss]

@@enthusiastisch1922 exactly

[@cabdixeedho4205]

😂😂😂😂 I'm here right now they are so funny everyone is walking and driving so Fast you think their flight will take off soon

[@omartaima8365]

THIS IS SO ACCURATE!

[@renataostertag6051]

Loved your video Madame. That's the Cairo I know. I was driving in Cairo in the 1980s and 1990s. I see that nothing has changed. Please, post more videos about life in Cairo.

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you so much, Renata! This is an excerpt from a two-hour television series I produced for PBS. Almost all of the series (in 3-10 minute videos) is on this channel in the playlist called "Egypt". I'm so glad it's bringing back fond memories!

[@renataostertag6051]

@@OurHumanPlanet Wonderful - will check them out. I always like to see things about and from Egypt.

[@awholelotofnothing6456]

That's insane. But like how they kind of just drive junkers and stuff that people have just put together in a shop. And all the extra parts. I really like it.

[@rhymeocerous]

Would've been considerably more illuminating if this lady had actually got behind the wheel and taken to the streets of Cairo

[@akelly0033]

The rule for me when in Cairo I didn't drive lol...hired a driver, said a prayer and held on for dear life. Most of the time with eyes squeezed tight. Saw another comment about Germany. I lived there as well and had a German License. While driving rules were no big deal and pretty straightforward they have SOOOOOO many traffic signs OMG. And of course they are all in German or Deutsche. I made sure to study the hell out of those and passed test on first try. Though I knew plenty of Americans that thought they could wing it SMH and ended up testing 2 oe 3 times until passing. Then on to a England where learned ro drive "on wrong side" of road lol. Driving in America is a breeze after all these other places. American Driving Rules are the easiest you'll find IMO. Last crazy Driving experience was in Kyrgyzstan. Pretty much same as Egypt where anything goes, no lanes, lots of animals in the roads, no parking and self appointed parking attendants exactly as described here in this video. You can support an entire family on a months wages as an attendant in Bishkek which is the Capital. Makes you appreciate American roads a whole lot more!

[@thokozanimsimanga8134]

Hello! Going there for a day and would like to hire a driver to keep our bags in while we explore, which company did you use?

[@kenneth7610]

Awesome video 📹!!!

[@alexle3396]

Oh my goodness, thank Ye kindly for this wonderfully delightful snippet of Egypt’s automobile culture. The info is insider, or someone who lives there. That’s what makes this video soo asmr. P.s Twice mina’s beauty rules okay?!

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Alex!

[@MM-ns5ir]

I'm vacationing in cairo next year and I'm here to see what I'm getting myself into 😁

[@ramijabi98]

ask the locals to help you cross the streets in downtown cairo if you wanna get out of there alive xD but on the bright side if you find someone who speaks english surely they will be more than happy to help you

[@ThecodbroZ11]

Pedestrians and drivers actually have alot of respect for each other. Drivers respect that everyone shares the road

[@MuhammadAbdullah-qt8sx]

Amazing Channel Thinking for a trip To Egypt

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Muhammad!

[@westside04]

زحمة يا دنيا زحمة هههه كل الحب للمصريين أخوكم من المغرب 💖

[@_Abo-Ali]

west side 🇪🇬❤️🇲🇦

[@ahmedibrahimhassanhajiali]

A genius way of taking film from the typical congested traffic jarm of Cairo city.

[@nancyokosi1]

Amazing storytelling

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Nancy!

[@emiratucker1150]

The accuracy!!

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you! :)

[@willemdederde6669]

The way they drive in Egypt is the same as the economics in the USA. Just me first . . .

[@alihelmy885]

willem de derde 😂

[@MrAngryGorilla2000]

Very true, here in the US they screw over their family members or the big bosses screw over their employees to the point they are homeless. ALLL MIIIINNNEEEEE!!!!! That's technically what they say.

[@8bitgamer85]

😲 I was planning on visiting Egypt and renting a car there until I saw this video on what traffic is like there. I guess I'll stick with a tour group for transportation.

[@stampmaker9384]

extremely well said

[@araceliespina5028]

I read some of comments and this had been posted 3 yrs ago but comments said still happening and it seems to me that this video still much older than 2017, and i bursted into laughter when i saw i car changing his route simple as that😲😲😲 i really enjoyed their weirderness still laughing🤣😂😁

[@thedeuce1374]

When we were in Cairo our driver explained Cairo traffic law: Green means go, yellow means go faster, red means go like hell.

[@suttoncoldfield9318]

Some countries drive on the right, some countries drive on the left. in Malta you drive in the shade

[@kerder8660]

Ur videos r superb.. Hehehe thx

[@sergpie]

Not so much nowadays, but when I was growing up in Italy in the 80s, Naples traffic was terrifying. My grandma would make us say a prayer to St. Christopher when crossing the roads without stoplights.

[@Aethelhadas]

Damn

[@meccamusa853]

awesome video! hilarious!

[@smrgeog]

I can testify to crossing the street as a pedestrian; it's probably the most dangerous daily activity in Egypt.

[@amedanous1528]

First it's good work , second I'm Egyptian and if you want title for this video there is one title you can put it on description ( road as a hell )

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Good title! Any chance you could write it in Arabic so I can put it in the comments and description? Thank you, Amed!

[@amedanous1528]

@@OurHumanPlanet For Arabic description you can use ( الدوامة )

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Great word! You made me laugh out loud. Done, and thank you! My name is Karin, by the way.

[@musasmall302]

Great video👍

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you, Musa!

[@joeemad6198]

Any news about Egypt 2020... :) You are welcome

[@annmargrethjakobsson1777]

You did soooo good, This is the Way, i love it, why i have no qlue.

[@user-jk2zm7uq5s]

Cairo street crossing should be an Olympic sport!

[@connerSphotography]

I will never ever complain about the traffic here in Kalamazoo MI every again .-. This is wild I’ve never seen cars parked so tightly.

[@kwas101]

I often said that driving in London is fine, driving in Paris is a bit stressful. Driving in Naples - if I had to do it, I probably could - when we were there, we got taxis or public transport. But driving in Cairo - never! And I have been driving for 40 years!

[@patp4403]

Wow!

[@Peppermint1]

If you think of it, this is just an amazing 2D Tetris game - 2D like in blocks coming from two directions

[@donjohsson9582]

Crazy!!!!

[@ahmedh.khorshid7849]

The video is great at "showing", but the uploader and many commentators fail at "explaining" the most crucial principle behind it: Cairo traffic IS chaotic no doubt, but it's organized chaos. (I'll leave it for you to figure out what organized chaos means). We Egyptian drivers understand this, but when foreigners drive and assume it's only chaos, it can be catastrophic. We Egyptian pedestrians understand the principles of organized chaotic crossing: Look before you make the decision to cross. Then, give your back to the drivers. They will slow down. When a foreigner imitates us, but look at the drivers, they will step on gas and make you run for your life! When foreigners some how understand these principles, believe me these find it FUN to drive and cross streets!!!

[@user-eg4ce9rt3k]

This isn’t a holiday destination to relax for sure

[@sandechoir]

i love cairo

[@TealKuruma]

oh man i love ciaro, i saw a lada there once a pretty rusty one but a lada

[@lukekelchner5471]

Does car insurance exist there and if so are rates extremely high or extremely low?

[@ketandeswal4336]

Egypt is very much similar to India. Just the streets are cleaner a bit and traffic is not that bad.

[@mitza3613]

4:09 100% won't break in pieces right after you leave the ''dealership''

[@sportsnews7711]

It's really surprising👊👊👊

[@adminbay1526]

this channel so amazing i subs you

[@OurHumanPlanet]

Thank you!

[@lavidaspeligrosa]

I was there January 2022 and besides the traffic hell, the air is VERY polluted

[@gardenstatePR]

Cities destroyed by cars

[@najneindustrijaliziraniji]

It's interesting how there are no trucks around. I assume that it's not allowed to drive trucks with trailers in such a congested area where people are crossing the roads from all sides, and where it's impossible for the truck driver, with all the blind spots they have, to keep track of where people are?

[@thisguy976]

So is there any public transport other than busses such as a metro system or rail system?

[@bakrmuhmoud4295]

yes..Of course, there are plenty of public transportations much more than you think all kinds of transportations available there in Egypt

[@bjabouzeid3335]

I'm American and I live in Egypt, I refuse to drive in this mess cause if someone hit my car they would have a bad day with me. If I need to go anywhere, I'll take tuk tuk, taxi, van what ever and leave it to the pros who are use to driving in this😉

[@lizvettevilla3589]

Starting now I will never complain in Montréal traffic 😩

[@mainpem]

Their order is "disorder".

[@m900l4]

And here in the UK, half of us lose it when someone cuts us up or doesn't move off at the traffic lights promptly . Maybe the angry road rage British people would love Cairo because they could sit there honking their horn all day ... 😉

[@danktwinkie8855]

This looks kind of fun

[@jammer1993]

yep, enjoying every bit of it, but an accident here = dead :)

[@andreakovacs3088]

Dono, in rush time it’s almost the same everywhere!

[@mairepcod4063]

Thanks,

[@QuintonTV]

Of all the countries I've been, Egypt's on my list of "never again".

[@lordwar4585]

i'm egyptian and i agree

[@princessnina3310]

wait why???

[@weareallbrainwashed5101]

I am Egyptian American, and I don’t even visit, and when I do max 2 weeks, and they are so stressful. God bless the USA