OK here is the deal, today I will not write about my favorite burger place, I know I had stated a day ago that that will be blog topic but, I changed my mind, The Ultimate Diva does not feel like getting burger today - another day.. perhaps.
But in exchange for one meat related topic let us go over to a meat lover country, where else could that be but the Asado Country, of Argentina (Buenos Aires) and let us take a glimpse at my experience as I drive and be amongst drivers of this city - I know will incur the wrath of die hard Buenos Aires fans (short for FAN-ATICS) out there with this - but I say - bring it on - what I speak is the truth, and sometimes other just cannot handle the truth!. Let me remind you that this is MY (as in MINE and MINE ALONE and has nothing to do with you!) blog and today I want to talk about how I love driving in Buenos Aires but how I hate BAD drivers in BsAs. If you think an article like this will raise your blood pressure, now is the time to exit this blog. Let it never be said that you were not warned - this can get ugly!!
Read and re-read this blog before sending me any comments, because what I am about to write about is true and these are my experiences so DO NOT TELL ME that this is negative - because I already know that - the other fact is - IT IS TRUE and indisputable.
I have seen and have been driven around BsAs by very good drivers. My own porteno drives fairly well. Claudio drives extremely well. I had a Tienda Leon driver show me how it can be possible to drive with respect and courtesy on General Paz and I made sure he knew his driving skills impressed me and believe me, I am one passenger that is very difficult to impress. Though I love the streets of Buenos Aires, it's those BAD ASS drivers that get my skin crawling. Argh! I have driven on streets were order and rules are followed and I have also driven on roads without visible lanes, street lights and names, where anarchy rule; I have properly schooled and licensed to drive for more years than I care to count, so I have been around and have seen alot to know what I am talking about.
This is an open letter to all BsAs drivers (or so they call themselves). I point my finger to the BAD, BAD drivers and commend the goods one.
In BsAs, the jerks should not be allowed to be on the road. I am not talking about character flaw jerk (otherwise that would eliminate 90% of all men and women drivers on the road), I mean the ones that are in such a hurry but they really are not getting anywhere- kind of jerks, AKA Bully drivers with their hazardous driving skills, lack of respect to other motorists, darting in and out of lanes with their big trucks kind of jerks. Why then didn't they leave their point of origin 10 minutes ago, huh?. Are their cars really that fast that they think they can get to where they want in 5 minutes, as it the roads will be empty just for them? And to think about it this drive they need to take will a regularly be a 15 minute drive? Other cars on the toll road have every right to share the freeway (albeit their cars are old, without stoplights and not road worthy) they too paid the toll just like you did. So share or learn how to share, buster!
And those drivers that commute on Pan-Americana with their faster, newer model, sleek looking cars or even more powerful cars, this does not entitle you to practice you Steve McQueen maneuvers while risking the lives of other motorists. Remember Steve McQ. had stunt doubles when he made those movies - HELLO! And trust me, your delusional and pseudo-Formula 1 driving skills will not qualify you to take Montoya or Alonzo's position on the racing circuit. Speeders, fast drivers and reckless drivers are 3 classifications of irresponsible drivers, which one are you? Drive safely, the life you save maybe your own or your loved ones. And think about this, so horrible is it to die in a freeway, with all your beautiful face and body mangled and everything - do you really want others to see your last moments looking hideous like that? And the freeway is a means to get from Point A to Point B, not a go cart course where you try to show off your driving skills (or lack thereof) and your Daddy's brand new car. Grow up will you!
And think about all the love ones that will mourn you should you die when your body and cold metal hit the guard rails and the cement when you crash at 160km/hr. Think about them first when you drive on the freeway as if you have a death wish. If you really want to kill yourself, why drag others with you, huh?
And by golly, what is with all the HONKING?! 85% of drivers on the streets and freeway of BsAs is fascinated with the sound of their own car's horn. They create opportunities to press that horn and they do so every chance they get. What is with that? Is it to draw attention to their rusty- tetanus giving- dilapidated-collection of metal they call car? Or is it to announce to the people on the streets that they are driving the newest car on the market and that they look so darn cool behind the wheel? Is that nuts or just simply shallow, or maybe simply immature? Or maybe yet, people honk at other drivers to tell the ones in front of them how slow and stupid they are. Slow drivers are known to be called "domingeros" -like a leisurely drive that only come out on Sundays to drive - thus the name. Honkers hold a special place in my heart because they do not really know what they are doing - they are morons behind a powerful, deadly machine called cars. Guys who honk for no apparent reason have a need for attention and sadly they have to honk at the whole world to get a dose of look-at-me pill. Tsk- tsk. Shallow and Insecure and therapy comes to mind. Noise pollution is just that p-o-l-l-u-t-i-o-n, so stop it already.
I have also seen a lot of improvements on BsAs drivers. A few years back it scared the beejesus out of me when I saw that hardly anyone stayed within the designated lanes, now I have seen improvements and some drivers moving towards obeying road rules. But for those who do not understand how this works, you stay within the broken white lines and not straddle or align your car on the white line. To do the latter is simply...loco! Like I said, there are improvements on this department but I am hopeful one day, everyone will understand why the lines and lanes are there.
Courtesy is observed at times. I have actually seen other drivers in the streets of Palermo and portions of Belgrano yield and let others go first giving up their right of way - to show courteous behavior. I am sure those that do this either have a sense of good manners or have actually travelled outside of Argentina and into countries where this practice is not an exception but a norm. And how about letting pedestrian go and cross the street without honking to hurry them up. It has happened and I have witnessed it a couple of times - refreshing to see chivalry is alive in the streets of BsAs. I am hopeful more will do this in the future.
Increase in seat belt usage after it became the law . I see more and more drivers and passenger use this life saving device. How much love can you show the young ones when you endanger their lives when you do not use seat belts when they are inside your car? Seat belts are in cars for a very good reason - use it. Remember you never know when accidents can happen and by then it might be too late to strap those on.
Blinkers or signal lights are standard in all cars, yet I have to see more of the drivers use this. I have seen drivers use them intermittently but I hope more of the BsAs drivers would try using it once in a while, it would help make BsAs streets a better place for all of us motorists. I am not sure about you but until I perfect my mind reading abilities, blinkers can really give me a good indication what you want to do, make a left, change lane to the right, you are exiting the freeway, those kind of things. Using it could be life changing even, try it sometime.
I am for the proper use of all 21st century gadgets and everything but what is the deal with texting and driving on the side streets of BsAs. I saw one car stop in the middle of traffic for no apparent reason, no potholes in front of him or anything (I know it was not a pedestrian) like that but that guy was actually texting as he was driving, now how freakin' dangerously crazy is that.
And the drivers that litter, argh!!. These people are the at the bottom of the food chain. People who litter show lack of respect to their own country, the environment and to their fellow portenos. People who throw their cigarette butts and candy wrappers out their windows shows lack of finesse, and do I dare say - lack of education. I will be brutal about this because it is offensive bad habit. Don't you love your country Argentina? So why are you getting it dirty? Walk the talk, I say. if you truly take pride in your country, do not litter. I am asking you to pick up trash, just do not litter. Do your share of helping clean up the country you call home. And those that throw their bus tickets on the ground are no better than the drivers who litter the Pan Americana - they are derelicts who I am sure will not mind should anyone go into their homes and dump trash in the middle of their living room because they do the same to the beautiful city of Buenos Aires. If the generation before you have been littering without giving it much of a second thought - NOW you know differently. How degrading is that to be caught littering - you are part of the problem and not part of the solution to the beautification of this city. Shame on the people who litter!
Sidebar comment:
I thought it was funny when one time I saw a guy with his buddy - drinking and driving. No do not get your panties in tissy - I did not mean alcohol - I meant mate. The two were passing their mate gourds and sipping alternately from the same bombilla. I guess it is common to do this while driving, especially during cold weather season. I usually see coffee drinkers doing this in other parts of the world- but mate - that was something to see. It is safer to drink mate than any alcoholic beverage though, that I much I can say.
My open letter to the drivers of Buenos Aires will not stop here. This is not the end of it. Every time I see something that is not good in the streets of BsAs, I will write about it here. Every time I see something that is commendable in the streets of BsAS, I will write about it here. It is important that the new generation of people living in BsAs be held responsible and be positive and contribute to the betterment of such a lovely place.
People who visit BsAs walk away always remembering how scary it is to be in its streets, driving or being driven by taxi drivers. We can change that misconception for there are good drivers out there it is just that the bad ones out number the good ones. And I am positive, it can only get better from here.
Now after all that is said and you had a moment to take a deep breath and let the facts sink in - now tell me that this observation is not true?
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