Re: Crowding the Interesection DOES NOT get you out there any faster...

["Robert L Bass" <no-sales-spam@bassburglaralarms>]

> I've been in Mexico a lot recently.
> Just finished a major video retrofit
> on a video system there, but then
> rural Mexico may be better than
> Mexico city or other areas...

I haven't been to rural Mexico but
driving in Mexico City is a madhouse.
Everyone is doing 50mph, bumper-
to-bumper.  Pedestrians have the right...
to run really fast.  :^)

Brazilians are among the friendliesy,
most polite people I've ever known...
until they get behind the wheel.  A few
observations about driving in Brazil:

1. After 11:pm red lights are optional

2. Those dashed and solid lines in the
road?  They're for decoration.

3. Passing on the right, left or from above
is considered normal.

4. When merging into traffic *never* look
first.

5. Speed limits are rigidly enforced but
those who know where the fixed position
radar cameras are located are exempt.

6. Stop signs (spelled "PARE") are rare
and those which do exist are primarily
used as ricochet bumpers like a pinball
machine.

7a. Potholes (called "borracos") which
appear during rain storms will be repaired...
eventually.

7b. Rainstorms are more frequent than repairs.

8. Brazilians cut each other off in traffic all the
time but no one gets mad.  It's not an act
of aggression.  That's just the way people
drive.  As a result, you learn to constantly
watch the drivers on both sides of you as
well as the guy in front because any one of
them may decide at any moment to occupy
the space you're in.

9. Morocyles are permitted, perhaps even
encouraged to "filter" between lanes of
moving cars.  This results in a constant
flow of movement (at different speeds) all
around you as you drive.  Riding is a real
challenge though you can get there much
faster because you never get stuck in traffic.

> The biggest problem I found was the
> crowded little two lanes in the border
> towns and all the tourists that don't
> know how to drive.

That's not part of my experience set but
I've ridden ancient school busses in the
hillside barrios around Mexico City and
that was a hair raising experience.  The
roads are a mix of dirt and loose rocks
going over very steep hills.  They're spotted
with huge potholes and filled with pedestrians,
dogs, chickens, burros and what not.  At
times we had to get off and walk up the hill
so the bus' tired, old engine could make it
to the top.

This was a church mission trip about 20
years ago.  It was a real eye openenr for
me seeing the tremendous needs, not to
mention the friendly, open attitude of the
Mexican people.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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