On our way to school we cross a small patch of desert where the local police station deposits wrecked cars from traffic mishaps, some of which are quite severe. I've posted a few pics below, and it won't be new to those of you who saw our Christmas video; harsh, I know, but we see it every day and it has become an interesting piece of our life here in Kuwait.

One of my journalism students interviewed the police magistrate about driving in Kuwait and discovered that wrecked cars--no matter how grave--are left out beside the road as a "speeding deterrant." (My running route takes me across Gulf St. and I have seen some of the more horrific ones left for weeks, glass, tires, blood, and all.)

Speeding is an endemic problem here, where driver's tests are only taken by non-Kuwaitis, and fatalities are common. I've heard that Kuwait has more traffic fatalities per capita than anywhere else. A few theories pop up, but most centre around the mantra "insh'allah," (as God wills it) which can be used here for everything from devout religious expression to getting out of next-day appointments. With traffic, though, it can mean that people drive as fast as they want with no seatbelts... I'm pretty sure that's not how it works, but am still working on that one.

B(&R)