Crazy driving league

1. Libya North Coast. Like a computer game driving challenge. Cars overtake through any gap possible. Near Tripoli there are two lanes each side of the road, but routinely 3 are squeezed in, 4 is attempted and not at low speed. Junctions are not taken by indicating in advance, but by cutting across at an 80 degree angle from the outside lane and breaking quite hard in front of the inside lane car continuing straight. There is no hard shoulder type area, but often there is an area of sand 50 metres wide before shops. If the road gets chocker, this is used for overtaking – see piccie. It is also generally used for driving in either direction which makes us slightly nervous on the main road next to it. The driving is one thing that the Libyan’s have kept from the Italian period and embellished. Road signs are a particular challenge, all being in Arabic. For the westerner the only place easy to attempt is the airport as it has a plane picture. We’re wondering what has recently been signposted over 1000 km from Tripoli. The ‘leader of the revolution’, Muammar Al Qathafi, is pictured on a number of roadside billboards adjacent to a map with Libya shining out of Africa. The number 36 is also on a lot of roadside signs reminding everyone that it is 36 years since the revolution. The Arabic sign in the central reservation may be a more toned down one of these. On a more sober note, our guide Ramadan was a passenger in a car accident in Libya this year which is why he is missing quite a number of teeth. The female tourist next to him died.
2. Italy. Both Land Rovers were cut up just after we exited the France/Italy tunnel and 3 lanes narrowed to two.
3. Tunisia – compared to Libya, a piece of cake. There is the usual problem of cars with no lights
4. France