The nations of the Middle East and North Africa -- particularly the countries with the greatest oil wealth -- have some of the highest traffic death rates in the world. Often, these states even top the poverty- and war-torn nations of South Asia and Central Africa, where one might expect drivers to exercise a bit less caution. But shouldn't countries with so much money and so few people -- Libya and Saudi Arabia are also ranked highly -- have clean, clear, open, safe roads?

It turns out that the profusion of oil wealth (not to mention some cultural factors) might actually make the roads more dangerous. Individuals, who often live off lavish subsidies, are accustomed to seeing the government as something that gives out money, not as a regulatory and policing body. The governments, which draw their legitimacy and power from oil rather than from people, have less incentive to implement harsher driving rules, which might prove unpopular. I asked on Twitter why UAE traffic is so bad and got some interesting responses from residents, natives, and expats who've lived in the area.

"Bad driving, little to no police enforcement, and notional speed limits (via camera radar) of 100mph (until Dubai border)," wrote Jonathan Shainin, an editor formerly based in the region. "When I was there, you could drive 159kph without triggering AD radar cameras -- which are anyway easy to spot."

The popular neglect for rules in general and on the road in particular was a common theme of explanations. Journalist Tom Gara cited a "Combination of no policing, fast cars, above-the-law attitude among citizens, large population from crazy driving cultures." Those "crazy driving cultures" might include Saudi Arabia, where a law forbids women from driving; women are statistically safer drivers, and male-only roadways might exacerbate machismo-fueled road rage.

One Emirati woman named Feyaza Khan, also a journalist, sighed, "People ignore the speed limit, don't think seatbelts are important and text while driving." Another, Shaahima Fahim, added, "Most streets are highways which would account for the speed. Road pride/one-upmanship would explain reckless abandon."

"Lots of youth with cars way too hot for them to handle," wrote Cecily Hilleary of Voice of America. "I spent five years praying for my life on highway from AD to Dubai!"

Traffic isn't the only part of life in the United Arab Emirates that's different from much of the rest of the world. Prominent Emirati journalist Sultan Al Qassemi joked, "Many of us are disappointed the financial crisis ended so fast. Roads were great until this year." The return to somewhat-normal flows of capital in and our of Dubai and Abu Dhabi means more young Emiratis are getting their hands on super-fast sports cars. Well, one hand, anyway -- the other hand is probably still thumbing away at a Blackberry.

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