On our second, and last, visit to Egypt, my wife and I knew of the culture of Baksheesh. Where everyone, including policeman, expect to be bribed or given a cash gift. Even if, as in one case, a policeman held-up the non-existent traffic to allow us to cross an otherwise empty road, and then indicated the need to reward him financially.
What we found to be most shocking was the traffic or rather, the drivers.
We were staying in the Hurghada area, about four miles from the neatest towns. Experience from previous visits to 'More Civilised' parts of Egypt had caused us to realise that hiring a car and attempting to drive anywhere in that area was to be avoided. We used taxis.
Why? Let me give you a few examples:
1 - No matter how dark the night, no matter how little street-lighting there was . . Not one driver ever used their headlights! (At least; not unless they decided to pursue one of the jackals that had strayed anywhere near a road. In that case, every headlight was put on and the drivers would pursue these creatures across roads and along pavements and even off road in an attempt to run it down.)
2 - It makes no difference which side of the road anyone uses! It makes little difference to the drivers if there is a hold-up ahead, they'd drive on the other side of the road or even drive along the pavement!
3 - There is no regard for vehicle safety! We had taxis that had no backseats, only a board of some type with cushions on top.
Seat belts seemed to viewed as a an unnecessary decadence.
Doors had a shared window handle. It was possible to open a window only if the driver had a spare one. (In any case, using a taxi with the window up or down was a choice between suffocating in the stench or heat or having one's face sandblasted!
Only one operable rear door. The other was held closed by lengths of string and electrical cable attaching it to the front passenger door.
Wing mirrors may once have been attached to the cars, but they had long ago been discarded.
And these were the taxis! Other cars were worse! Honestly!
But! The biggest culture shock of all . . .
Hash!
We had taxi drivers who, once we were on our way, would light up some of the biggest joints I have ever seen!
I mentioned these issues to an hotel employee, who told me not to worry as "Egypt people make best drivers in Africa!"