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An American professional basketball player has sparked conversation about driving culture in Türkiye after publicly venting his frustrations with traffic conditions since joining his new team.
Jehyve Floyd, a 28-year-old center who transferred to Aliaga Petkimspor from Japan at the start of the season, shared his experiences on social media, offering a blunt assessment of navigating Turkish roads.
"If you are a good driver, you cannot survive in Türkiye," Floyd said in a video posted to his social media account. "You have to change your mindset. Because they take advantage of you in traffic. You let someone pass, and five more cars squeeze you in."
The Turkish Basketball Super League player described adopting a more defensive approach behind the wheel since his arrival.
"I don't look at anyone here. I just drive my car and hope that someone doesn't crash into my car," Floyd said. "Yes, this is a bit narrow-minded, but you have to do it because everyone drives crazy, there are no rules here."
Floyd's comments touch on longstanding concerns about road safety in Türkiye. The country has one of the highest traffic fatality rates among OECD nations, with aggressive driving and insufficient enforcement of traffic laws frequently cited as contributing factors.
The American player joined Aliaga Petkimspor, based in the Aegean coastal district of Aliaga in İzmir province, after playing in Japan. The club competes in Basketball Super League, the top-tier professional basketball league in Türkiye.
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