1) emergency lights are turned on in dark places (tunnel, alleys) or to warn the cars behind that
their will be slow movement happening for some time.
2) turn signals are only used (if ever) to make large U-turns mostly, or to make a turn - not to change lanes. Best bet is a confident hand or head out the window, or a quick jolt to the desired lane. The slow obnoxious and unbeatable block is always a strong option ( slowly move so close in a diagonal fashion - as in cutting off the car in the other lane behind the car you are about to hit back bumper - this causes the person you are trying to get in front of to ask himself if its worth if the re-blocking attempt or the let them go in front move is worth their time, spot, driving pride at the same time they will always fear the risk of scratching their car. Or they are daredevils...
3) Fact : colored streetlights have made there debut in Beirut in the last 2 years. They are attempts to regulate the insane and uncontrollable traffic problems in the city. There are plans being written up for an addition of over 100 in the city. A green light these days (july 2010) is the equivalent to the destruction of a dam, people who don't want to be following green lights, or are upset that they ended up on a street with lights are filled up like balloons with impatience (especially since the people in other lanes, have been too, and so their red light ends alot later then other lanes would desire) so its a continuous cycle. (Understandable) impatience causes green lights to pour, yellows to cause trouble and make speed increase, and red is for the 1-5 stragglers who cannot bear the thought of waiting. (U-turns always taken at reds, also right turns)...oh and if their is a traffic cop and the lights - the hand signs of the cop are followed, not the colors.
4) Always leave a light side room to left and right for incoming scooter kids. Or else they will hover around your car a million times to get through - so leave space and remember their engine noise. They move like flies, they sound like them too.
5) If you are in a hurry and the road crosser in front a couple of feet is on the phone they will move quickly. If the crossers are 2 guys ready to go out, they will take their time 1 guy - depends on the car, 2 girls, depends on your speed, the elderly ; take your time - not because they are slower, but because offending them will make the situation worse = slower.
6) Don't turn your washer-water on in areas like hamra, or narrow streets in general (most streets) - you are bound to hit someone.
7) If there are 2 lanes, its a three laner. 3 lanes is 4 etc. etc... Highways are depending on shape of cars.
8) Honking styles and their meanings:
- Honking your horn (beep beep-beep-beep beep-beep...) continuous one style = wedding or personal celebrations
- Honking melodically = someone won
- Quick half a second honk = "watch out intersection I'm comin in fast", or a service letting you know he's all ears, a sign to the person in front who is in neither lane that you are coming on the left or right - so he better not move, or someone taking too long when its green.
- Long held honk - universally "MOOOOOOVEE", or if upset with the move made by the person in front of you (a cut, a near hit, too sudden of a stop, etc)
- double quick honk - the rarest of the kind = a friendly hello to someone you know on the street, or in a car, or when picking up someone at their house, or sometimes even to cross blind intersections also.
9) flashing of beam-lights is usually done when a car coming in fast, or in a hurry, wants to pass the the leading left lane driver (or any-lane driver) the flashing is usually done when they are not in the mood or going to stop, so it better promote moving or increasing speed big time.
10) Never drive behind a sukleen truck or any truck - this one is also universal.
11) Never drive behind service in a busy area, but if the service is speeding, he's the best to be car to be behind.
12) Going into the one-way street on the wrong side is always a shortcut.
13) Most one-ways block views of incoming cars, if you cause traffic, and get a follower to go behind you, you bear the embarrassment and hatred from everyone. (Honking is sometimes used to let the drivers wanting to go in the street the legal way, to wait so that the car going in the other way can get out get out first.
14) Cops like to keep their lights flashing 24/7. There not pulling you over until the give you a a quick sample of the custom honk. (byeeeyoop) and maybe a beam-light or two, so don't just make way for them until you fully get what they want.
15) Passing walking women will cause green lights to be reacted to slower, according to dress and look.
16) If people crossing the road are walking in front of your car, and sandwiched by the car in front of you ; you are in traffic. If people are running top speed, your not.
17) If a siren goes off behind you and its not a white or black Toyota 4wd, or black gmc, charger, or chevy ( or important looking car generally) , its fake and ignore the bastard who bought it.
18) Bumper stickers are unheard of, and never seen.
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