At 11.23 2005.02.11 +0000, you wrote:
>>Maybe THAT explains the way they drive in Rome!!!
>>Didn't have too many problems elsewhere, but I don't really many
>>traffic lights either. We didn't drive in central Rome but the traffic
>>was, as everyone says, diabolical.
>>
>>At pedestrian crossings they are unaware of the meaning of red or
>>green lights (if they have any meaning). The guide book says to walk
>>steadily across and they will avoid you. And it works!!!
>>
>>A major proof of concept was tried on an extremely busy street at the
>>end of the Roman forum away from the Colosseum after any amount of
>>waiting hopefully at the kerbside had not produced any ebbing in the
>>flow. Take wife firmly by hand. Wait until light for traffic is red
>>(not green!*) and walk resolutely out. Hold wife's hand VERY firmly as
>>she is now screaming and trying to pull away. Pull her gently but
>>surely along behind you. Cars melt around you on either side as you
>>walk steadily across, speed not, apparently, slacking. If you think
>>I'm making this up then you haven't been to Rome :-).
>
>Yeah, red only means there is an "unsafe state", not "don't proceed" :))
>
>One person I used to know reckoned the way to drive in Italy was to politely
>wave on the person you had inadvertently blocked, and is now sounding their
>horn at you. Said person cannot have someone more polite than themselves,
>and waves you on instead :))
>
>I don't know if there are any Italians on this list, but I am sure they can
>give as many stories about driving in the UK or elsewhere.

I'm Italian (nobody is perfect :) ).

Last Semptember me and my wife, freshly married, spent our honey
moon in Scotland. Since then my life as a driver has changed. I
now understand why so many foreigners have so much to complain
against Italian traffic and, let me say it (although I wish I
didn't have to), how much ineducated we Italians are in our cars
(and often also out of them..). Among the many things, what
irritates me a lot of the way Italians drive (unlike Scots) is
the safe distance. This is a concept highly unknown here, and one
I am extremely sensitive to, having got serious physical damage
because of an idiot that has hit me from behind (and it happened
two other times with two other idiots.. and I did nothing to
make it easier to happen).

I loved Scottish people.. educated, sensitive, kind. Now, if you
Scots were just capable as much as us to cook, make love, make the
sun shine and play soccer, I would call Scotland "home". *grin* ;D

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