On the Cairo-Aswan Agricultural Road, microbus driver Mahmoud Khaled propelled his vehicle forward at an alarming speed, a departure from the speed the passengers are used to. The resulting journey left his passengers visibly shaken, particularly Nadia Abdulsattar, a 40-year-old from Malawi, Minya Governorate, who observed with dismay as the vehicle careened over bumps, the driver showing no signs of slowing.
In an interview with “Al-Minyawya”, Nadia recounted, “we noticed the driver’s excessive speed, neglecting to brake over speed bumps and frequently swerving out of his lane. The car rocked perilously, and despite the mounting fear among the women and the evident shock and terror on the passenger’s faces, the driver refused to decelerate.”
To the left, Nadia noticed another microbus appearing to compete with theirs. When she implored the driver to slow down, he retorted that he was engaged in a race with the other driver, aiming to reach Malawi Town station first and secure a 1,000 EGP bet bonus.
At the Malawi microbus station, the drivers partake in illegal betting, vying to be the first to reach the station for prizes as high as 1,000 EGP. These wagers compel them to exceed speed limits and drive recklessly, with little regard for passengers’ safety. Consequently, this perilous pursuit of winning jeopardizes the lives of those on board.
Three months ago, the microbus Nadia frequently rode overturned near Rawda village, a consequence of the driver’s reckless speed in a bid to win the bet. Adia sustained several vertebral fractures, which continues to impede her mobility.
Aswan Agricultural Road
The Cairo-Aswan Agricultural Road is a critical artery in Egypt, stretching approximately 800 kilometers. It traces the Nile River, traversing the governorates of Upper Egypt and culminating in Aswan Governorate.
The Aswan Agricultural Road also links Minya Governorate to Malawi Town, situated 46 kilometers south. It serves as the primary transportation route for Malawi’s 969,245 residents. In 2022, Minya recorded 1,727 accidents, according to a report from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, identifying excessive speed as the leading cause.
Lax Supervision
Major General Safwat Kamel, a seasoned traffic expert, attributes the prevalence of betting among drivers at the Malawi microbus station to inadequate supervision, primarily due to the insufficient number of radars along the Aswan Agricultural Road. He asserts that an increase in radar installations would enable the detection of excessive speeds and betting violators, allowing for the imposition of appropriate penalties.
He clarified to “Al-Minyawya”, stating, “there are two types of radars: the genuine radar and the decoy one used solely to intimidate drivers. However, the mere presence of radars is insufficient, as some drivers with limited awareness do not comply unless traffic checkpoints are present.”
Why do Drivers Engage in Bets?
Ahmed Yasser, a 30-year-old driver at the Malawi microbus station, discloses the mechanics of highway betting: “several drivers, including myself, agree to wager with each other, pooling a sum of money for the first to reach the destination. This prompts us to drive at high speeds on the road, with the prize serving as a reward for the winner.”
The driver elaborates to “Al-Minyawya” that these races occur while passengers are being boarded, enabling him to maximize the number of daily trips and thereby increase his income. He admitted that he accelerates to reach the destination first, yet despite this, he has not been issued any speeding tickets during these bets, owing to the existence of just one radar on the road.
Mina Yousry, a Malawi resident and frequent traveler on the Aswan-Cairo Agricultural Road, corroborates this, stating, “the stretch between Malawi and Minya is equipped with only one radar, leading drivers to disregard the threat of speeding fines.”
Mina recounted witnessing one of these perilous races, “returning to Malawi from Minya Governorate, I was abroad a microbus traveling at an alarming speed. Out attempts to communicate with the driver were futile as he ignored our pleas. Glancing out the window, I saw another a microbus attempting to overtake ours.”
“When I urged the driver to decelerate, he replied that he needed to reach the station before the driver to claim the 1,000 EGP bet. I have lost three friends in traffic accidents on this road, particularly at the Rawda Village turn where drivers seldom slow down, resulting in fatal collisions for trivial monetary gains,” he added.
Samir Gamal, a driver in his forties, attempts to join his colleagues at the microbus station collecting these modest sums. He seeks to augment his monthly income, which does not surpass 7,000 EGP and falls short of covering his family’s basic needs. Consequently, he strives to supplement his earnings by all available means.
“With 100 microbuses at the station, we must increase the number of trips to generate more income. Placing bets or making additional trips directly boosts our earnings, especially given the challenging economic conditions everyone is facing,” he told “Al-Minyawya”.
How are Bets Organized?
The monthly income of a driver who owns a vehicle at the Malawi Town microbus station ranges between 7,000 and 8,000 EGP, while those who operate but do not own a vehicle earn an average of 4,000 to 5,000 EGP. This financial disparity drives them to engage in road gambling, risking high speeds to reach their destination first, often disregarding passenger safety.
However, Magdy Al-Badawy, Vice President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, refutes the notion that low income justifies endangering lives. He states, "betting is an illegal deviation and has nothing to do with the drivers' low income; it is a blatant disregard for lives."
Al-Badawy told "Al-Minyawya", "a driver can increase income by carrying more passengers or evading ticket fees, but betting on excessive speed and jeopardizing passengers' lives is a behavioral deviation and illegal. Enhanced road surveillance and expanded speed monitoring radar coverage are essential."
Mohamed Fawzy, a driver at Malawi station, earns 100 EGP per race, with bets sometimes reaching 1,500 EGP. He explained that the race is not limited to two drivers, as others may also participate, betting on who will arrive first.
“The bet is overseen by a neutral third party, who determines the winner and awards the prize money. Our unique challenge is that the race occurs while passengers are boarding. We push our vehicles to high speeds to arrive promptly and win the bet, all while avoiding collisions," he explained.
Should Mohamed, Ahmed, or any other driver at the station collide during these bets, the penalty would be for speeding, and would not exceed six months in prison and a fine ranging from 300 to 1,500 EGP, according to the new Traffic Law No. 27 of 2024.
For a third offense, the penalty may escalate to imprisonment for up to one year and a fine between 1,000 and 5,000 EGP, or one of these penalties, as explained by Legal Advisor Mahmoud Al-Ruby to "Al-Minyawya".
Most fines equate to the amount wagered by the drivers, underscoring their indifference to penalties. Therefore, Major General Safwat Kamel, a traffic expert, advocates for stricter penalties for speeding, imposing fines on drivers, and mandating the installation of speed recorders in their vehicles.
Advisor Al-Ruby highlights that penalties for speeding vary by circumstance. If a driver damages property, the financial penalties are more severe. If it is proven that the driver was under the influence of drugs and this resulted in a fatality, the penalty could include imprisonment.
Addressing drivers’ betting, he states, "there is currently no explicit legislation criminalizing betting, but steps are being taken to approve a bill that will criminalize all forms of betting. Anyone who participates in betting will be subject to the law."
Until legislation explicitly criminalizing driver betting is enacted, driver Samir Gamal continues to race against time and the road to earn additional income, even at the expense of his passengers' lives. Meanwhile, Nadia endures pain and difficulty moving, haunted by the memory of the microbus overturning during a bet.
All names of passengers and drivers mentioned are pseudonyms, used at their request to protect their identities.
