Portuguese Drivers
Francisco has become one of my ‘go-to’ sources for explaining the Portuguese people to me, especially Portuguese men.
If you recall from the story of the Blue Car, Francisco is an entertaining source of wry, psychological insights.
Needing a general maintenance service on my car, as well as an inspection, I stopped in where he works last week to make an appointment. While I was there, we got to discussing Portuguese drivers, and not for the first time. We have similar concerns.
As we chatted, we realized we had both passed by the very same accident a few days earlier. On the outskirts of a city 20 minutes away, both of us had seen one of the ubiquitous small white service vans resting on its side in the middle of a busy roundabout. A crowd of people – including police – stood around, and in the way of other drivers.
“Excessive speed,” Francisco said – also my thought when I saw the sideways van.
Portuguese drivers think they can drive better than they actually can. Statistically, Portuguese drivers are now even worse – in terms of fatalities – than Italians for whom, it has been said, a red light is “just a suggestion.”
Portuguese drivers, especially men, simply cannot stand it if there is a car on the road ahead of them; they take it as a personal mandate to pass that car as soon as possible, regardless of weather, blind curves and oncoming traffic. Especially BMW drivers.
Franciso agrees with me.
“Portuguese drivers will tailgate you to the moon!” he said with a laugh.
© original art by Kristin Fellows
Kristin Fellows is a published artisan writer, world traveler, and a well-seasoned documentary film consultant. This tale comes to you from a small farming village in Portugal, where she is still surprised to find herself living.
When not writing, Kristin can often be found walking Kiitos, listening to someone’s story, or behind the lens of one of her cameras. Or perhaps doing all three at the same time.
More about Kristin @ kristinfellowswriter.com
[photo of Kristin & Kiitos by Liza Debevec]
It’s always a BMW driver
Great article, true we are not the great drivers we believe we are. I guess people just rely too much on cars and all the technology they come with. It's easy to accelerate, not that easy to brake or go around a corner when you go at a high speed. We take too many risks behind a steering wheel. I just don't agree when people say police should give out more speeding tickets. Our police officers are not famous for letting you go with just a warning, that doesn't happen. We have so many speed radars both in cities and in national roads that most times they don't even have to stop you, you just receive the ticket in your mail box in a few days. And if they do stop you, your infraction is recorded for life! They can't just delete it and forget about it. Our authorities in the last few years have placed hundreds of speed radars all over the country. They even do the math between two points to see if you spend less time than you are suppose to spend from point A to point B. And if you do, it means you were driving abobe the speed limit and... you got mail!!! So yes, we are bad drivers, but no, we don't get to go away with just a warning.