Suicidal driving in Turkey

I first got my drivers' licence back in 1986 and it was one of the toughest experiences I have ever gone through. Months and months of weekly lessons, not to mention their cost, and then finally the test. The last time I was back home, I saw how much more difficult it had become in the UK when a friend mentioned her daughter's driving lessons. Computerized now, with more rules to memorize and tougher test criteria. Nice, but why are people driving shittier, then?

As for drivers here in Turkey, driving is a case of bad, worse and downright suicidal. Last weekend I counted every 7 out of 10 drivers and passengers wearing seatbelts despite it being mandatory. The number of women who obstinately sit in the front seat with their baby or child on their lap is so ridiculously high it's obscene. In any case, children are always sitting in the front, no matter their age. 

I rarely manage to read Turkish newspapers, but I do sometimes read online headlines just to keep up. Apparently they're going to make getting a licence in Turkey harder. Personally, I think they should recall every single licence they've ever given out until now - like toys made in China - and make everyone take a re-test. Anyway, last week the President of The Driving Schools Association, Vedat Sahin, made some interesting comments in his statement. In fact, I was so shocked that I was sure I got my Turkish all muddled, but my husband later confirmed I had read it correctly. To sum up in a nutshell, he said (translated); 

"Under the new regulations, learners will drive in both day and night conditions, learn how to park, reverse and use signals... be failed for not wearing their seatbelt during the test... passed drivers will know how to drive by themselves the next day."

After splitting my sides about the fact that if learners aren't taught these in the first place, then what exactly are they teaching at those driving schools? How to find FM on the radio? Well, my three year-old can do that. (While parked in front of the house, mind you.) No, after a couple minutes, the reality of his words sunk in. And, it's as clear as day that he's speaking the truth. I have only to step out into the street to see that.

The biggest culture shock for me was the traffic and I still haven't got used to it. I'm still trying to drive using my British road safety sensibilities which were drummed into me at a very early age when our zebra crossing constable used to come to our school and talk to us about it. But here, people get mad at you for adhering to speeding limits, stopping for old ladies and school-children at pedestrian crossings. Not taking off when the light turns yellow. Stopping when it turns red. And they think you're coming on to them if you wave a thank-you for giving you right of way. Which doesn't happen often, thankfully.