PAISAS: Nice in person, rude as shell in their cars

tejasmarcos says on Mar 18, 2008, 15:59:

I'm not stopping my car for anything!

god is in your head

durito says on Mar 18, 2008, 16:06:

I've noticed this all over latin america.

It's quite odd. They live a relaxed pace of life, if you can't finish something today, do it tomorrow. Or it takes forever to get something simple done.

Yet, get in a car and they are willing to risk everyones lives to get somewhere 4 seconds faster.


I swear they speed up when they see the gringo in the street too

ColombianoGringo says on Mar 18, 2008, 16:06:

The way people drive in Colombia is downright scary, especially in the big cities. When you get back to the US, you appreciate the relative courtesy and respect for traffic norms of US drivers as compared to drivers in Bogota and Medellin.

Simon says on Mar 18, 2008, 16:14:

Lamentablemente es cierto, los Colombianos manejan horrible!

"You want to talk to God? Let's go see him together, I've got nothing better to do."---Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

Lostgringo says on Mar 18, 2008, 16:26:

I have seen the same thing in Colombia but it's not reserved only to that country. The exact thing happens right here in the Philippines. I imagine it is some kind of way to let off all that stress they keep suppressed or something. Funny but they are nice in their cars in parking lots. My reasoning for this is they are somewhat trapped. You can reach inside the car an grab them by the scruff of neck! But on the open hiway they are the most inconsiderate bunch of aholes ..I have ever seen.
Durito it not just aimed at the gringo...they will run over old women, dogs and anything that walks or crawls across THEIR PATH. It's the same and sometimes worse with motorcycles. I would often hear about someone who was killed on their motorcycle. I would think to myself that this person had it coming. They go from 1st gear to 3rd gear in 1 BLOCK. What's up with that? They come to a stop sign and do the same thing for the next block. They don't care if little kids are playing on the street or not. And, if some little kid gets killed they are all sad and stuff. Two minutes after driving like maniacs they will be opening a door for you and saying Buenas Noches. Bloody strange if you ask me and it ain't going to change anytime soon lol.

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robi666 says on Mar 18, 2008, 16:30:

Italy is not any better than Colombia. Rome = Medellin, Naples = Barranquilla.
Barranquilla and Medellin are absolutely two different things. You cannot simply refer to it as Colombia.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

tejasmarcos says on Mar 18, 2008, 16:32:

the two times i have ALMOST been hit by cars were in a parking lot (Carrulla). i think that the person is gonna let me walk across the lot to get to the door of the supermarket and they NEVER stop or SLOW DOWN! if i was not aware of them and had not JUMPED out of the way, i would have been hit! AND the damn driver just ignores me when i try to look him in the eye to say "TRUCK OFF ACE HOLE"! they just ignore...... amazing.....

- i have seen that motorcycle incident you speak of as well, LG.

god is in your head

Lostgringo says on Mar 18, 2008, 17:02:

Funny I remember a friend of my ex-wife who used to drink allot. One time she was behind a car at a stop light and she laid on the horn. The guy in front of her just put his car in Park, got out, walked to her window and punched her in the face! She had a black eye for a month lol. That's in Canada. Try running someone down and all hell would break loose there and the police would be involved. The rules of the road in many of these countries is THERE ARE NO RULES. But it does amaze me how they can be so polite when they step out of their cars and rude as hell on the road LOL.

Durito say, Yet, get in a car and they are willing to risk everyones lives to get somewhere 4 seconds faster. There's logic to it Durito. Especially no logic a Gringo can relate to. They are like drunken teenagers are pissed off at the world driving someone else's car where they don't have to worry about accidents or any responsibility.

Don't think that this only happens in the larger cities either. This kind of behavior is in the smaller communities also. It's hard for us to get our heads around this but a CAR in these countries has the right away. The roads are made for CARS. Humans have no right to be on the road and as such should be run off the road when the opportunity presents itself.

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ColombianoGringo says on Mar 18, 2008, 17:06:

I find that in some of the smaller cities and towns, people are not as aggressive when they drive. They still do stupid shit like drive on the wrong side of the road, but they won't throw their car at you to be jerks like they will in Bogota or Medellin.

However, if you really want to try a deadly sport, try crossing a major street in Mexico City.

RAAAY says on Mar 18, 2008, 17:12:

They are soooo bad.....so rude, so bad mannered, so nasty, so aggressive, it really makes one wonder if the nice people we all meet are actually putting on an act.


.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

sloopskipper says on Mar 18, 2008, 17:17:

It is the same in Panamá, maybe even worse. Of course they were Colombians until 1903. But, like many places, all seems different once you leave the city.

A friend just returned to Puerto Rico from Mexico (Merida) and he says is worse there. In a couple months he was actually hit 3 times crossing the street, although not seriously injured.

tejasmarcos says on Mar 18, 2008, 17:21:

makes me wish i had a 3/4 ton dually with the heavy duty ranch grill and bumper...

that would be fun. i saw a ford taurus run into the back of a ranch truck one time. it damn near totalled the car. the cowboy got out of the truck and put some gas on a rag to wipe the paint off his heavy duty bumper - we laughed our arses off!

god is in your head

Lisa Zee says on Mar 18, 2008, 17:31:

In USA the pedestrian has priority, but in Colombia it is not that way.

tejasmarcos says on Mar 18, 2008, 17:42:

LZ - please help us gringo bobos understand that mentality, porfa. enlighten us .....

god is in your head

mranderson says on Mar 18, 2008, 18:07:

I was crossing a 3 lane street today and i was standing in the left lane getting ready to dash across the road when someone in an suv in the middle lane started honking and waving his arms up in the air. Like I had absolutely no buisness trying to cross the street. He even swearved a little towards me. It seems that people who own cars have the mentality that they are better than street walkers and the road is reserved for them.

goin_south says on Mar 18, 2008, 18:09:

well, doesn't everyone want to be JUAN PABLO MONTOYA?
jaj

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

sloopskipper says on Mar 18, 2008, 18:10:

That is also true here, as though anyone walking is a maid or gardener, meaning that they are certainly considered second or third class citizens by those who are driving.

And slow down when there is water standing in the street and people are standing at a bus top, or walking nearby? FORGET IT, SPEED UP!

They can show off their prosperity, whether driving a new Maserati, or some fugitive from a junk yard.

mranderson says on Mar 18, 2008, 18:25:

Bus drivers play a game and try to splash as many people as they can. I never give bus drivers respect because they don't deserve it the way they treat people and even their customers on the bus.

sloopskipper says on Mar 18, 2008, 18:33:

I think that I maybe see that regularly here also.


A clue to their mentality?

goin_south says on Mar 18, 2008, 22:09:

mr anderson,... wtf are you talkn 'bout?

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

nine inch nails says on Mar 19, 2008, 08:23:

South Florida and Houston Texas also, no all large metro areas. All races can equally drive like idiots.

"Bank owned" (www.foreclosurebyowner.com)

nine inch nails says on Mar 19, 2008, 08:31:

I think this is all so true and why they saw the need for the Transmillenia and Metro, to get people out of cars and walking more. I love Metro and catwalks over the traffic where you don't have to stress over getting broadsided by a car.

WE NEED MORE MASS TRANSIT AND LESS CARS, MAKES FOR A MUCH FRIENDLIER ATMOSPHERE.

Living in South Florida have to say see it just as bad as any latin american city.

"Bank owned" (www.foreclosurebyowner.com)

ColombianoGringo says on Mar 19, 2008, 08:36:

I live in Houston and there are some bad drivers, but there is no way in hell that people here drive anywhere near as badly as they do in Bogota and Medellin. People that commute downtown have some bad traffic jams, but you don't have cars swerving towards pedestrians, nor do you see three lanes of traffic turning left at a light when there is only one left turn lane. You don't routinely see people driving the wrong way down the road or completely ignoring red lights. If you tried to pull the kind of shit you see drivers in Colombia doing, you would end up in jail before too long.

tejasmarcos says on Mar 19, 2008, 08:45:

yep

god is in your head

mranderson says on Mar 19, 2008, 08:47:

going south I guess I just don't like bus drivers. If you ever notice when it rains and there are large puddles of water in the street they tend to try to splash people...by speeding up or swerving into the water puddle. Also I lived in La colinita for a year and the guaybal 143 route just seems to be the worst. Of all the drivers in medellin I think some bus drivers are among the least skilled. I've never heard so much grinding of gears and unsmooth shifting...like slamming the gears and clutch popping before. Drivers on other routes seem to be more professional.

bill230 says on Mar 19, 2008, 09:04:

Robi666: What is the difference between drivers in Barranquilla and Medellin?

ColombianoGringo says on Mar 19, 2008, 09:46:

Speaking of drivers in South Florida...
250,000 drivers in Miami without valid licenses.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/461800.html

MitchAlvarez says on Mar 19, 2008, 10:52:

Drivers in every city in Colombia are all animals. Its not a paisa thing.

I mean I even change when I drive in Colombia.

Its not going to stop until law enforcement really enforces all traffic violations and fines/suspends people accordingly.

Tengale miedo a una huelga de mujeres o a una escacez de aguardiente. :)

Chriscan says on Mar 19, 2008, 13:52:

I wish

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

goin_south says on Mar 19, 2008, 22:37:

I gotta say, I did have a lil more fun, this past week in Bogota... some pedestrians will wait foreva (tg) to get across the road/street... but ... in Remembrance of Rubito (oh! He's still alive???)... I acted as if I had the right of way and gave em the big cross armed stop sign, or the 'extended hand'....Really, it's not that different, here or there... in that regard. (God Bless) California is still the only place I know where pedestrians have the right of way.

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

goin_south says on Mar 20, 2008, 23:06:

But, why is everyone complaining about 'the way they drive in Colombia'?

In six trips there, I have only witnessed two highway/roadway accidents and one of those was on new years eve.... so that doesn't even count.

It is very simply a different mentality towards driving.... I think it reflects there attitude towards the rest of life,... giving and (aggresively) taking, for survival's sake.

Actually, it's one I admire. I'm not sure I could do it, or would want to; I only drove part of the carretera from Cali to Pasto. The problem there certainly was not with 'other drivers'... jejje.. but with the potholes and hairpin turns.
I guarantee... I see alot more accidents right here where I live, day by day.

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

DodgerDogs says on Mar 20, 2008, 23:24:

GS: Cajuns drive worse than Asian Gesha girls .

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

goin_south says on Mar 21, 2008, 00:11:

hey DD... un minuto... I'm gettin my blood sugar up, with some of these Guayauba/Arequipa combos ffrom Olympica...

why can't the freakin Chung King Chinese just LEAVE THE FREAKN DOLLY LLAMA and Tibet ... ALONE!

Lostgringo says on Mar 21, 2008, 01:49:

One time in Bogota I was on my way to Zona Rosa in a taxi. All of a sudden the traffic came to a stand still. We were on a collector lane and crossing the freeway. I could see a number of flat bed trucks hauling damaged vehicles away. Right in front of us was a van turned on it's side. Para medics were helping guy out with an intravenous running into his arm. There was fireman crew there with special tools cutting this guy out of the van. He looked pretty bad and could have died on the way to the hospital. I didn't follow up on this incident. But what I though was incredible about all of this...my taxi driver included is that everyone was laying on their ^)(*&^&^ horns. I guess they felt that somehow they should have pushed his van out of the way and let the traffic go through. And because of all the carnage on the freeway that traffic was stalled and all the cars there were wailing on their horns. I call that rude behavior you can call it what you want.

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robi666 says on Mar 21, 2008, 06:09:

"bill230 says on Wednesday March 19th, 2008 9:04:
Robi666: What is the difference between drivers in Barranquilla and Medellin?"

After you have been driving in Barranquilla, Medellin looks like Stockholm...

If you have and old dirty big truck, a drive downtown Barranquilla is one of the funniest experience that you can have. It is like a fun park.
You can do whatever you think it is necessary to get faster from point A to B, keeping in mind that buses are bigger than you. You soon realize that following the rules won't make you move much.
If it is raining, the excitement grows, especially approaching a fast arroyo...
Remember, a BIG OLD DIRTY truck that you don't mind bumping is a MUST.

There are two rules, so far:
1) Whatever a bus is doing, it has got precedence over you
2) If you see a Smurf (Agente de Transito), start driving like you're in Sweden. The green ones are just apprentices, they cannot do much, and the trick is to make them wet with your wheels.

If a smurf want to give you a ticket, bribe him, but be sure to have someone recording it with your cell phone: it is something in fashion, a must, in Barranquilla lately.

But if you want real excitement, get on a moto taxi there. Not fot everyone.

Best sector to try the fun: between la Calle 30 (el mercado) and la calle Murillo.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

bill230 says on Mar 21, 2008, 09:02:

around

Lostgringo says on Mar 24, 2008, 09:52:

One time in Bogota I was walking along the street and I saw a funeral procession of maybe 20 cars trying to get into the traffic from the funeral parlor. Do you think any of these devout Catholics would let these cars in? Not on your life lol. Every few minutes one of the 20 cars squeezed it's way into the traffic. This kind of behavior is unheard of in my country but it is the norm in Colombia. It's their way and we are not going to change it. We have to accept this behavior if we want to adapt. But it doesn't mean we have to behave the same way.

Now here is something funny that I have experienced a few times with my g/f. At times she has no sense of direction in terms of where she is going and she doesn't look out for other people in her way. She looks out for cars but not necessarily people. It's like the rules (no rules), of the road apply to pedestrians too. I can't tell you how many times Colombians have walked into me. Ya gotta love em. LOL

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