A road deal

He spends 12 hours in traffic every day. On some days he clocks 15.

But as a rule, Manzoor Ahmad believes patience is the key to being a stress-free taxi driver in Sharjah.

Ahmad told Gulf News: "I chose to be a taxi driver. I knew the hours I would be spending on the road and about the traffic conditions. It's the deal I made with myself when I took up this job. I remind myself that there's no point in getting angry when stuck in traffic.

"When the traffic is very slow, I call my family, get details about the next passenger or listen to my favourite music. Sometimes I enjoy this slow pace of life."

New roads being constructed in most areas often leave a driver with very little choice in terms of finding alternative routes or shortcuts. "If a passenger needs to reach some place very quickly and I know it might not be possible, I inform them in advance. This helps avoid conflict and stress in case of delay," Ahmad said.

He has never needed to take a day off, but if ever he is feeling off-colour, the company is quite considerate. They allow him to take rest, get refreshed and resume work.

Ahmad said: "I never use the horn, unless I need to get a driver's attention. I don't like being pushed and I wouldn't do it to others. Most drivers understand this. It's our way of sharing the stress.

"Often I have to stop the car by the road side to pick passengers. Most of such times, impatient drivers behind me start honking. That's a trigger. A minute of patience is all I ask for."