Stops signs. A suggestion. If it suits your agenda.

I'm turning left at a not very busy intersection and I have right of way. The car on my left, however, has a STOP sign but keeps rolling through and (luckily) brakes when I get in her way.

Through my open window I point "The STOP sign is there for a reason".

Lady driver calmly retorts, "I know I have a stop sign, but I'm in a hurry".

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Go figure!

Greek motorcyclist swore at me today.

I was walking in front of him

...on the sidewalk.



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Awwww, look at the shivewing Gweek pedestwians!

Uh, excuse me, Mr. Greek driver. Yup, I'm talking to you. I've been driving in Greece long enough to know what you're up to. You're behind a steering wheel of a moving vehicle therefore that makes you the driver. The people outside of the vehicle are moving around on foot, therefore they constitute as pedestrians. Not to you. Nope. These suckers are moving targets! And the Elmer Fudd in you is screaming "Open Season fo' wabbits!'

You spot the Granny leaning on her cane. With her deficient reflexes and poor eyesight she's checking for any oncoming traffic. Just when she thinks the coast is clear and ready to step off the sidewalk onto the pavement, the blazing sign lights up in your mind: 50 POINTS! Grannies with walkers: 150 POINTS! Grannies that shake their fist at you and drop their walkers: 250 POINTS! Young men go for less because they can outrun the car's bumper. You only brake for beautiful women in hopes that one may cast a "come-on" look your way.

I can't change your habit. I try to set forth a good example on the road. But, no, you just honk at me because you're upset that I let ONE get away! OK, OK, you have your distorted fun. However, when it's freezing cold outside and the remaining pedestrians left standing are being whipped by severe winds and sleet, give them fair play. Give them the right of way. Let them pass. You are safely in your warm car, protected by the laws of nature. Be a sport, Elmer. Tomorrow the sun will come out and you can go at them again!

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Greek road rage

I can't understand it.

Greeks are a friendly, hospitable lot.

Why is it that you get one behind a steering wheel, they turn into Linda Blair from "The Exorcist"? They hiss at pedestrians, spit green slimy muck at other drivers, chant Beelzebubian at traffic lights?

Why do we refuse to acknowledge basic rules of safety and etiquette within the metal confines of our vehicles?

Why have we acquired a genetic "KILL-KILL-KILL-don't-scratch-the-paint-job" instinct?

Driver ON the road and ON his/her cell phone: "Wait a minute there's a moron in front of me doing the legal speed limit",
Hooooooooooooooooooonk!
"Move OOOOO-VER imbecile... My car can do 140 kmph and you're holding me back"!

Funny part is that 9 out 10 times you rendezvous with Speedy Gonzaleth at the next traffic light. They pretend not to see you because they did not voluntarily WANT to stop but were forced to because of the OTHER moron in front who was too chicken to ignore the red light!

"How did things get so ugly? In areas as congested as central Athens, keeping traffic moving often takes precedence over patrolling against those who violate the road rules. When law enforcement officials turn a blind eye to traffic infringements, drivers establish between themselves an unwritten code of acceptable behaviour. The net result often bears closer resemblance to the regulations at a demolition derby than anything you learned in drivers-ed.

Once ingrained, habits of non-compliance are difficult to break. As a trip down any of Greece’s main thoroughfares will prove, excessive speeding, tailgating, reckless passing, laying on the horn, flashing "brights", and offering up antagonistic hand gestures have become as commonplace as stopping at a red light. Combine aggressive driving with poor roads and high levels of congestion in both the cities and outlying areas and you get what Greece had until 2001, i.e. unprecedented and mounting trafficking fatality rates."

Source: http://www1.greece.gr/POLITICS/InternalAffairs/uturntosafety.stm

Note to self and all blog friends wishing to visit/already living in Greece: If you absolutely don't have to drive while in Athens, save yourself the aggravation and use the public transportation instead.

Oh, and if you think our driving is bad... you should check out our Greek parking!



Check out this short flash animation by cartoonist Bruno Bozzetto.

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