As I am going to the dead sea today to attend the WCF, a car from the opposite direction gave me a headlight flash, right at the middle of noon.. so it was a signal of some kind. I thought maybe he’s warning me of something, but I didn’t realise directly what it is. Then another car gave me the same warning, so I was sure that it is something, it was a speed control patrol. I dropped my speed from 110km/h, to 90km/h which is allowed in this road. Few hundred meters ahead, and in the most sneaky hidden place, there was it. Trying to catch the speedy unaware drivers (I was aware, so they didn’t catch me).
Now it got me thinking a little, why did the stranger warn me. Is it because they want good the the fellow driver? spreading love and peace in a drivers’ way ? Or is it some ill feelings and hate toward the money collecting speed control patrols and officers. I am sure that the reason is mostly a mix of the two. And You could find people volunteer help in the most outstanding ways.
Back 7 or 8 years ago, when I first got my driving license, I had an exciting car accident. I was a little speeding, in a small car, at a curve, lost control, the car swinged on the street, hit a sign, and flipped over it, landing the car on its top. Now all that happened in few seconds, I was out of the car without a scratch. But what is exiting is the people. The accident was in the middle of no where (at airport road), but as soon as the car flipped and landed, people started to rush in 10s. I was out of the car, surprised at the whole thing and there was people coming and offering different kind of unasked help:
- “spread sand on the street, and you can blame Amman Municipality (2amanet 3amman)”
- A group of 3 guys lifted up the sign that I hit, and fixed it so that I won’t pay any fines for damaging it.
- When the policeman came, someone that I do not know turned out to be his relative, and told the policeman that I am his cousin, and the policeman didn’t issue any ticket for the accident
- A guy came and offered buying the car while it is on it’s back (Now that is not really help, but someone seeing an opportunity and taking it)
and so on… (PS. after that accident I started to hear some new proverbs that was told to my father : بالمال ولا بالعيال (Let it be money not kids), and بالحديد ولا بالعبيد (hitting iron better than hitting people, or something).
Now, I really would like to understand the actual reasons for this very helpful attitude, is it the nature of our people ? is it being nosy ? is it that we are in the same team against traffic control police ? I’m not really sure, but all I know that I didn’t really need or ask for all that help (I wouldn’t mind any speed control warning in the future, and I may assist my fellow drivers with warning them as well, unite we stand)
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