Wednesday, October 31, 2007

What are the lines for, exactly?

There is a particular road, a fairly main one, that has been recently decorated with its very own street lines. These gave me hope that there would soon be more organization on said road and perhaps more predictability in the driving patterns there. However, instead I followed a car for some distance yesterday morning up that hill and instead of passing it, I merely followed and laughed. This particular driver seemed to think that instead of driving between the lines, one was supposed to drive so that the line went directly down the middle of one's car, effectively taking his half "out of the middle" of the road. Other drivers completely disregard the lines as if they don't exist. I guess I always thought that people naturally drive within boundaries, but it must be something I learned through experience, or part of the way my culture thinks. Order is good, we say. God is a God of order. We like order. But these people don't always think that way.

3 comments:

Nick Jesch said...

Or, perhaps, their sense of order is simply different than ours. This is a cultural thing. Everyone knows two cars cannot occupy the same space at the same time. This is a "first law" of order. As long as a "system" (despite its seeming chaos) results in the above law being observed....there is sufficient order. Interestingly, in Mexico there ARE postes speed limits. Who observes them? Mainly tourists. Why? Fear of being arrested..largely non-existent. SO, what is their REAL function? Seems the only such is that, in the event of a crash (they don't call them "accidents" there) the cop can have some basis for "citing" someone who was obviously in violation of the speed limit..or on the wrong side the roadway...or whatever "law" he happens to believe was "violated". A friend relates a situation in Guatemala...highway headed south out of town, four lanes, center island divider, the required turn off the highway to the left meant slowing in the fast lane and climbing over the curb, crossing the two lanes of oncoming traffic..everyone did it that way, but my friend would not "break the law", instead driving five miles further, exiting, driving five miles back north, taking the right turn to his destination. The ONLY time anyone would ever be cited is if they turned in front of traffic and caused a crash. After two years, my friend finally relented, and "did as the Guates do"--he'd slow, hump over the center divider, and drive merrily on his way, totally guilt free. Merely a different form of "order". Funny how we get so acculturated to "what's proper". I can imagine traffic and driving there are at least as crazy as in any large latin american city...by or US standards, beyond insane. And yet, look at the "accident" rates here.....far higher, in spite of our refined sense of "order". How can this be?

thebeloved said...

Alas, if only the ultimate order of two objects not taking up the same space at the same time were gainfully employed. I am afraid there are quite a few instances where two cars seem to find that a difficulty. But yes, in some ways the freedom allows for more kindness and less strict application of the "LAW". I have become completely accustomed to parking on the wrong side of the road.

Nick Jesch said...

why, Miss C, whatever could you be meaning with your term "wrong side of the road"? Is not the "proper" side of the road the one with the space in which to park the car? (tee hee hee)...yes, I've been in enough crazy places that are distinctly "other" than the good ol USA to readily adopt to the local customs. Fun, actually. Then, when returning here, it makes all the silly little laws all the more so. I mean, when I can see half a mile in all four directions, and not another vehicle in sight in any of them, WHY must I come to a full and complete stop whilst riding my bicycle? Sigh....