Portuguese drivers are psychopaths?

Mike,Chislehurst · Post by **Mike,Chislehurst** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:40 am

No offence to anyone but it seems a recent study confirms what some of us have thought for a long time. http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=1159246&s=74385745

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:50 pm

Mike..all I can say is.... 'Ditto' this for Lincolnshire (this part anyway!) ...drive along the A16 and you'll experience the same..if not worse..than in Algarve..
Overtaking on bends..brows of hills..Double white lines....
Double overtaking..by car & motorbike..as I experienced on way to Boston at midday

Bunches of flowers at the roadside every mile or so...the worst accident rate in the whole of UK

The psychopaths are alive & well(but how long for?) in Lincs.UK
H says ..hes happy to drive in Algarve anytime rather than here..and thast saying something

digger · Post by **digger** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:47 pm

OK we all know the Portuguese are not very good at driving

, but are we to believe that its now official and the Portuguese authorities are calling their own sort “egocentric”, “anti-social” and “psychopathic”. I thought it was only the outsider who felt this way.

When they stick to your back bumper waiting to overtake you on a blind bend, they’re only having a bit of fun. When impatient they can get animated but there’s no road-rage, no violence or real aggression. I think “psychopathic” is a bit strong. I’ve seen (on rare occasions) far worse in the UK (and I've never been to Lincs)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:00 pm

Same in Essex.
Nearly as bad as Linconshire i reckon

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:51 pm

Digger...driven in all 3 places..Algarve/Essex/Lincs...and yes..still think Lincs the worst!

Guest too · Post by **Guest too** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 11:22 am

We start our directions for guests going to our place for the first time:
“The Portuguese have the highest road traffic accident rate in the whole of Europe and some of the drivers in the Algarve seem hell-bent on ensuring that no one deprives them of this questionable accolade!”
Think that says it all!

driving miss daisy · Post by **driving miss daisy** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 11:53 am

Well thats encouraging to first time visitors Guest Too

Think Ill stick to cabs

Rampage · Post by **Rampage** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 11:50 am

Here in the Middle East all cars undergo a modification before they go on sale. The brake and accelerator are connected directly to the horn so that the action of either of the former instantly activates the latter. The wiring and relays needed to achieve this modification are removed from the indicators which no longer function. This assists all local drivers in their wild and unpredicatable driving habits, their main skill being driving at astoundingly high speeds in sraight lines, whilst they are completely incapable of negotiating bends and hills. This, combined with a 'will of Allah' attitude results in a traffic death rate ten times higher than the UK in a corresponding traffic density of one tenth the UK's. I fear the Arabs contributed more to the Algarve than just its name!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 1:10 pm

So..its the 'Arab' blood thats to blame Rampage

Just discussing your points with son... and he says of his time in Cairo..that there was no driving on left/or right just anywhere..and there were no 'rules 'regarding roundabouts there..and that he almost 'admired 'the skill..in the free for all as these were negotiated!

He asked Dr Aziz..his landlord..about his Brit driving licence and he told J he would need an Egyptian one too !
On asking what the test was there...all the good doctor came out with was..negotiating ones way round some rocks! J..being young and impressionable..believed him..wonder if its true

Anyway..he played safe and stuck to taxis

..ellie

digger · Post by **digger** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 5:48 pm

I think one of our guests on the Portuguese Children topic summed it up quite nicely.
In a word: [quote] whooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah [quote]

Rampage · Post by **Rampage** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 4:27 am

Ellie - I can well believe what you say about the Egyptian driving test. I had to sit a test in Qatar when I was there in 1989-90 as the British licence was not recognised. The test consisted of negotiating a series of tortuous manoeuvres between lines of upright steel pipes that were designed to fall over with a clang if even sneezed at. Most of the test was conducted in reverse gear (the vast majority of Qatari roads are multi-lane highways never requiring the use of a reverse gear), culminating in a reverse hill start on a steep ramp (the largest hill in Qatar is about 3 feet high). Moreover the course was designed to just fit an old-style Toyota Corolla small saloon car. This was great on lady's day when all the Qatari wives would turn up in their Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals to sit their tests - the sound of steel hitting concrete was deafening! However, as their husbands ran the country they still got their licences.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:40 am

I was in Qatar at that time Rampage and can confirm everything you've said! Also noteworthy was that the ladies driving test was only held on one day of the week - a spectacle which was considered to be free entertainment for all the TCNs in town who would queue up four deep at the fence to gape at the performances.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:37 am

How cruel....those poor Qatar ladies!

But Sandy & Rampage...you paint a wonderful picture with your vivid descriptions...know I shoudn't laugh..but it sounds hilarious

Think my son was quite surprised that Egyptian test was quite 'intricate'?

( hes being sarcy of course

)....as he'd previously heard that the only requirement was driving 6 metres forward & 6 reverse!