Driving in Egypt is a chaotic and often perilous challenge, according to Shahd Mohamed, a 27-year-old photographer who lives in Cairo, with reckless drivers and poor road conditions making every journey daunting. “My everyday drives are manic. Everyone goes wherever they want, whenever they want, and whoever has the bigger car wins,” Mohamed said. Egypt has one of the highest rates of road fatalities per mile driven as of October 2024, according to the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. While intercity roads are generally well-maintained, highways pose significant risks, particularly after dark, due to unmarked surfaces, unlit vehicles, stray animals, and disabled cars without reflectors. Mohamed drives 40 minutes to work every day through the Ring Road to the 5th Settlement and struggles the most with driving on unlit roads and navigating potholes. As part of the government’s 2024 load-shedding initiative, authorities have curtailed roadway lighting, including along the Ring Road, prompting some citizens to file complaints about the difficulty and danger of driving in the dark. In a statement on 27 June 2024, the Ministry of Transport acknowledged and emphasized that critical junctions, such as…
Egyptian Drivers Navigate Hazards Daily as Unequipped Roads Persist
February 22, 2025
By Nadine Tag
Journalist
