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.
Obrigada Ségio, and thank you for your thoughts. I’m happy with the highway ticketing system, but there is no such system on the little mountain roads where I live, which are both narrow and curving. And some drivers are just plain crazy here. It doesn’t make sense, they are always in a hurry. Portugal is such a beautiful country, I often wonder why they don’t slow down and take the time to appreciate the scenery!
You're right, these systems and radars don't exist in municipal roads, secundary roads like we call them. Two of my closest friends moved from our small hometown to Algarve permanently, I'll tell them to slow down next time I see them!
Now, if you ever have the time to think about it, please try and explain to us, from a non portuguese perspective, the biggest portuguese paradox, hugely related to what we are discussing: we are always in a hurry, never the less, we always arrive late!
Thank you for telling your friends to slow down! ❤️
From a non-Portuguese perspective, here goes:
Time management is an art form, and for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to have become part of the culture here yet.
The same applies to 'start' times for performances – they're rarely on time! And people know that, so then they come late on purpose, which only exacerbates the problem! 😆
Sadly, these are the two reasons I don't go out to evening performances. They already start late (by comparison to other cultures), usually at 9:30 pm. Which in Portugal translates into 'around 10 pm.' Which means it finishes around 11:30 pm (or later), which puts me on the secondary roads around midnight with all the crazy drivers now racing to get back home, some of whom may also have had a drink or two. 😬
That's a perfect formula for disaster: driving too fast, after drinking, on secundary twisty and poorly illuminated roads, many times without the white limit marks to help. And acting agressively, because for some unknown reason, we morph from peaceful citizens to a kind of angry poor Ayrton Senna behind the wheel.
I hope and believe your posts about life in Portugal will always be true. Positive or negative doesn't matter. We know we're capable of both the best and the worst.
Oh Kristin this is so relatable. In Mexico people drive like maniacs, too. I noticed this in the Philippines as well. Traffic laws are just suggestions in these places. I know we have some ridiculous drivers in the US as well, but compared to Mexico driving in the US is like heaven.
I couldn't agree more. I've had people say the drivers in Marrakech and India are less dangerous than Portuguese drivers. Recently, a very nice young Portuguese guy told me that to many Portuguese drivers, speed limit signs are "just a decoration" on the road. And another Portuguese man, a professional (and good) driver himself, told me a week ago that the only way this will change in this country will be if the police get a cut of the speeding tickets they are supposed to give out. As it is, "there's a lot of hassle involved and no incentive." So yes, I agree, the drivers in the US are far better!
Kristin first off thanks for subscribing to my newsletter. Second off, I agree about the speeding tickets. I always tell my wife that cops should just start giving out tickets for traffic violations here and she just brushes it off like it wouldn’t be possible. It would fix the situation though.
My pleasure! Thank you for subscribing to mine ~ you have a very nice public media sensibility 😊
Here's an interesting aside for you. I was bemoaning the drivers in Portugal to an American friend who lives in Spain. She told me drivers used to also be bad in Spain, until the authorities cracked down on them. And guess what happened next? As a result of less reckless driving, she says, the lists of people waiting for an organ donation got longer. Food for thought...
Love this- we live in Central PT and when we rent a car we have to gird our loins! ALSO back in my days in the office we had used a code to mock our boss- it was “fig jam” …. Acronym Translated to “ F^€k I’m great, just ask me!”😁😚😉
There is a special place in hell reserved for BMW (and Audi) drivers. But there is sth particularly odd given how badly people drive in Portugal given that getting driver's license actually requires psychological assessment report and certificate showing that you are psychologically apt to drive- but almost seems like you do that test, you don't pass, and as a reward they give you the license. Or maybe they the psychological assessment is looking for whether you can be aggressive and they reward you with a license if you can.
Omg, my thoughts exactly, Liza! I’ve been looking for a way to illustrate this, and when Francisco, who is Portuguese, said Portuguese drivers will tailgate you to the moon, it was just the inspiration I was looking for 😆
It’s always a BMW driver
Definitely! Once in awhile, a Mercedes, but the BMW drivers are terrible!
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.
Obrigada Ségio, and thank you for your thoughts. I’m happy with the highway ticketing system, but there is no such system on the little mountain roads where I live, which are both narrow and curving. And some drivers are just plain crazy here. It doesn’t make sense, they are always in a hurry. Portugal is such a beautiful country, I often wonder why they don’t slow down and take the time to appreciate the scenery!
You're right, these systems and radars don't exist in municipal roads, secundary roads like we call them. Two of my closest friends moved from our small hometown to Algarve permanently, I'll tell them to slow down next time I see them!
Now, if you ever have the time to think about it, please try and explain to us, from a non portuguese perspective, the biggest portuguese paradox, hugely related to what we are discussing: we are always in a hurry, never the less, we always arrive late!
This should be on our flag!!
Thank you for telling your friends to slow down! ❤️
From a non-Portuguese perspective, here goes:
Time management is an art form, and for whatever reason, it doesn't seem to have become part of the culture here yet.
The same applies to 'start' times for performances – they're rarely on time! And people know that, so then they come late on purpose, which only exacerbates the problem! 😆
Sadly, these are the two reasons I don't go out to evening performances. They already start late (by comparison to other cultures), usually at 9:30 pm. Which in Portugal translates into 'around 10 pm.' Which means it finishes around 11:30 pm (or later), which puts me on the secondary roads around midnight with all the crazy drivers now racing to get back home, some of whom may also have had a drink or two. 😬
That's a perfect formula for disaster: driving too fast, after drinking, on secundary twisty and poorly illuminated roads, many times without the white limit marks to help. And acting agressively, because for some unknown reason, we morph from peaceful citizens to a kind of angry poor Ayrton Senna behind the wheel.
Keep writing! Always a pleasure to read.
I had to look up Ayrton Senna. Reading he died at 34, behind the wheel, that's a a sad but apt comparison.
Thank you for reading, Ségio ~ I promise you, my illustrations & posts about life in Portugal will be (mostly) positive! 😉
I hope and believe your posts about life in Portugal will always be true. Positive or negative doesn't matter. We know we're capable of both the best and the worst.
Thank you!
Oh Kristin this is so relatable. In Mexico people drive like maniacs, too. I noticed this in the Philippines as well. Traffic laws are just suggestions in these places. I know we have some ridiculous drivers in the US as well, but compared to Mexico driving in the US is like heaven.
I couldn't agree more. I've had people say the drivers in Marrakech and India are less dangerous than Portuguese drivers. Recently, a very nice young Portuguese guy told me that to many Portuguese drivers, speed limit signs are "just a decoration" on the road. And another Portuguese man, a professional (and good) driver himself, told me a week ago that the only way this will change in this country will be if the police get a cut of the speeding tickets they are supposed to give out. As it is, "there's a lot of hassle involved and no incentive." So yes, I agree, the drivers in the US are far better!
Kristin first off thanks for subscribing to my newsletter. Second off, I agree about the speeding tickets. I always tell my wife that cops should just start giving out tickets for traffic violations here and she just brushes it off like it wouldn’t be possible. It would fix the situation though.
My pleasure! Thank you for subscribing to mine ~ you have a very nice public media sensibility 😊
Here's an interesting aside for you. I was bemoaning the drivers in Portugal to an American friend who lives in Spain. She told me drivers used to also be bad in Spain, until the authorities cracked down on them. And guess what happened next? As a result of less reckless driving, she says, the lists of people waiting for an organ donation got longer. Food for thought...
Love this- we live in Central PT and when we rent a car we have to gird our loins! ALSO back in my days in the office we had used a code to mock our boss- it was “fig jam” …. Acronym Translated to “ F^€k I’m great, just ask me!”😁😚😉
That's hilarious, I may borrow that (when necessary) 😂
I plan on posting the recipe soon and will think of you when I do, Tina! 😉
Agree totally!
I think I'm falling in love with you. I guess that's what happens when I enjoy a person as much as I do you.
Why have we not met yet!?! We have to fix that in 2025! 🥰
There is a special place in hell reserved for BMW (and Audi) drivers. But there is sth particularly odd given how badly people drive in Portugal given that getting driver's license actually requires psychological assessment report and certificate showing that you are psychologically apt to drive- but almost seems like you do that test, you don't pass, and as a reward they give you the license. Or maybe they the psychological assessment is looking for whether you can be aggressive and they reward you with a license if you can.
Omg, my thoughts exactly, Liza! I’ve been looking for a way to illustrate this, and when Francisco, who is Portuguese, said Portuguese drivers will tailgate you to the moon, it was just the inspiration I was looking for 😆