Car Culture
One of the most astonishing things about the automobile, I think, is how few accidents there are. I live a short hop from the confluence of two major freeways, an interchange that is second in the world in terms of overall traffic only to another interchange just over the hill. Thousands and thousands of cars passing by daily, with remarkably few incidents, and only very rarely anything serious. What's remarkable is that you can always, without fail, see people doing boneheaded things that miss disaster by inches. What does this tell us about the ability of human beings to survive by, as Thornton Wilder reminded us, "the skin of our teeth?"
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:08 AM
8 Comments:
When you think about it John... we are an extraordinarily optimistic lot! Each and every day we fasten ourselves into a little metal box (mostly plastic nowadays)and charge out into the traffic without giving it so much as a second thought. There are no collision avoidance systems here. And only when we have an accident do we realise how much damage can be done... in no time at all... at a relative slow speed.
And people are scared of flying? Sheesh! At least there's some rules of engagement up there!
Jean what I remember most clearly about driving in OZ were your enormous trucks. John I have driven(or been driven) in in 12 different countries. The U.S. with the exception of Boston,lol has the safest drivers.roger
hahaha... Roger... I wouldn't dare drive in the US... think I'm a died-in-the-wool right brainer. We tried it in Hawaii once without much success! LOL Very scarey indeed.
What I could never get over was all those driver-less cars making illegal right hand turns...(grin)
For some reason I had no trouble driving on the "wrong" side when I was in England, and again in South Africa. But as a pedestrian I repeatedly put myself in harm's way, stepping off the curve into oncoming traffic while looking the other way.
Roger, I have to agree with you about U.S. drivers, with this caveat, Italian drivers are actually better than us, but they're crazy. Just imagine the havoc they'd cause if they weren't so skilled.
There has been a 2% INCREASE in road deaths in the US over the past 10 years... and a 20% DECREASE in Australia over the same period.
There are crazy drivers the world over. I've driven with my fair share... and can pretty much guarantee they rely more on luck than skill.
OK, now my feelings are getting hurt. Everyone's a critic including my computer. Had a very pithy retort last night and posted it but my computer must have censored it. This is the second time. Third time, the computer is out the window the hard way. Great cartoon, John C. Commentary is it's usual style.
I should have said safest not best. Having ridden in Italy with John( a sports car racer) I would have to agree with him. roger
So, if I go to Italy, do I get a ride in your race car, John?
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