how to drive like an argentine

[original post June 13, 2007]

One of the big cultural differences between Latin Americans and North Americans would have to be driving. Maybe it's just my American bias, but Argentines drive like maniacs.

Street signs are just suggestions. Some signs are followed implicitly--I guess at the busier intersections you don't really have a choice. Stoplights are followed, but even these are different than in the states. Instead of yellow meaning to slow down because red, which means stop, is coming, the light goes straight from green to red. Yellow is used along with the red light when the green light is coming. The natural result: people start going when the red/yellow light is up.

The old dashed yellow line versus solid yellow line also stands as a suggestion. Passing is always preferred to riding behind someone. It is also acceptable to pass in groups.

If you have a two-laned road, sometimes it can magically turn into a three laned road if the guy behind you wants to pass you badly enough. It's simple: all he would have to do is just ride up the middle of the road, over the little dashed lines in between all of the cars--provided there is room of course.

I saw something on Avenida 9 de Julio (the gigantic highway that is the artery that runs through downtown) that shocked my little American self. On this 16-lane highway, when you come to a turn, you can just switch lanes, willy-nilly, cutting the corner sharp. Just hope that you aren't the guy in the inner lane.

I'm lucky that my host is a safe driver. I did have a hair-raising remis experience (a remis is like a taxi that you can hire), zooming down the main avenues of downtown BsAs.

Oh yeah, and the thing that I don't know if I'll ever understand. At nighttime, usually, they don't use their lights. This is especially true out in the country. If they use the lights, they are usually dimmed (how they do it, I don't know). If you pass a car, they will flash their lights at you. "Hey, I'm here" ...oh, thanks.

I'm lucky, though, in that I walk and ride the trains and busses where I need to go. My only challenge is crossing the streets!